St. Augustine Confessions

St. Augustine’s Confessions St. Augustine lived during a period in which the Roman Empire was in deep decline and Christianity was taking root as the official religion. It was a time of great political stress and widespread religious concern. The Confessions reveals much about his formative years, when he strove to overcome his sensual desires, find faith, and understand religious and philosophical doctrines. Augustine treats this autobiography as much more than an opportunity to narrate his life, however, and there is hardly an event mentioned in his autobiography that does not have an accompanying religious or philosophical clarification. St. Augustine’s confessions also provide one with a critical aspect of the Christian Bible. Augustine’s confessions form a work that corresponds closely to its content and achieves what it set out to achieve, which is redemption from sins for Augustine and a revelation for the readers. His writing is basically an idea of the return of creation to God; its aim is to inspire others to actively seek this return and to believe in the creation of God. The relationship St. Augustine has with love and God is undeniably irrevocable due to the fact that he cannot distinguish love and God with out one another. Augustine often experiences darkness, blindness, and confusion while attempting to find truth in God, but he knows that when he eventually finds him his confused heart will be redeemed. Augustine started out in childhood with a state of confusion because he had to live in two different worlds. These two worlds consisted of that of his mother’s (Monica) religious faith and teachings, and the rest of the outside world. The two worlds confused Augustine as a child because his mother praised Christ and Christianity and about the almighty God who helps humans to go to heaven. In the outside world, it was completely nonreligious. The talk was about striving to achieve. In Carthage, while successfully pursuing his studies, he abandoned his Christian moral teachings of his early years and took in a mistress, with whom he lived with for 10 years. Augustine’s relation to his mistress focuses primarily on the problem of restless love, while showing that Augustine had the desire to love and wanted to be loved. Many young men stayed with a woman until the time came to marry them back then. This is what Augustine performed. He states that, â€Å"In those days I lived with a oman, not my lawful wedded wife but a mistress whom I had chosen for no special reason but that my restless passions had alighted on her. But she was the only one and I was faithful to her† (Confessions, IV). This is just one of the many aspects in his life that he considered sinful. Later in his writings, when Augustine talks about his conversation to Neo-Platonism (all actions a re considered good or evil) and then Christianity that he classifies his previous behavior as sinful and regrets many of his previous actions. By the time he converted, he viewed every act in which he put himself ahead of God as sinful. One sin that he mourns greatly and faults himself for is allowing him to be sexually free and having various partners. Although Augustine was regretful for his sin, he also mentions that it was the hardest sin to give up when he was trying to determine if he wanted to convert to Christianity completely. Augustine also attempts to provide another explanation for his previous actions by speculating that his actions were a result of his love for God being somehow misleading; â€Å"To him I was led by thee without my knowledge, that by him I might be led to thee in full knowledge† (Confessions, XIII). One of the biggest struggles that Augustine faced was his belief in God and how God exists. His concern was how we can seek God without really knowing what he is or what we’re exactly looking for. â€Å"Within me I had a dearth of that inner food which thyself, my God—although that dearth caused me no hunger† (Confessions, I). He constantly questions the existence of God and his belief in Him. Asking God to â€Å"come into me†, Augustine again questions what that phrase could really mean when expressed to God. Later on in the writing, Augustine came across a book, in which he referred to as â€Å"books of eloquence† (Confessions, IV), called Hortensius by Cicero. He admired this book very much and its philosophical ways which he proclaims it â€Å"changed my whole attitude and turned my prayers toward thee, O Lord, and gave me new hope and new desires† (Confessions, IV). The reading caused him to reach toward God, even though he had only learned of God seriously through Monica, his mother whom was of Christian faith. It helped him to develop a different outlook on God and take life more seriously. Furthermore, the death of Augustine’s friend made him realize that all love should be rooted in God. His friend became very ill with a fever and eventually passed away. Augustine felt extreme grief and sorrow for his friend’s death. He believes that the main cause of his misery lies in the fact that he loves his friend with the type of love that should have been reserved for God alone. Therefore, he felt that all human love is going to fade unless this love is grounded in the eternal God who never changes and will always remain. While love exists between two souls with whom we want to be with, this type of love will always have a basis from God. Throughout the Confessions, love and wisdom, his desire to love and be loved, are all driving forces for Augustine’s desire to find peace in God. Augustine often experiences darkness, blindness, and confusion while attempting to find peace in God and peace within himself, but he knows that when he eventually finds him his restless heart will be saved. Augustine felt that love might help him have a solid purpose in life and would guide him through his time of conversion. Love is a natural feeling for human race and becomes a necessity for all people. For Augustine, the first love has to be for the love of God. It must come before all others. He states that â€Å"the thought of you stirs him so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you† (Confessions, I). Holding God as love’s priority, it helped Augustine to shape his life, his mind and his beliefs. He never realized what a big difference it makes in one’s life when it is opened up to love and to love Christ. For Augustine, the answer to his questions and confusion lies in God’s grace. These answers are to the most difficult questions on life and faith. Throughout his writing, there was no time where he had been without love, but he had loved in pieces, hidden, and conflicting ways. He had loved his mother, Monica, from the beginning. He had also loved the name and image of Christ, but was in state of confusion many times therefore doubting his faith and beliefs. Through the Confessions, Augustine leaves himself and his past to praising God and loving him because he felt guilty with himself and his importance of God in his life. He found a place in God that he never imagined could happen. His guilty mind and heart finally found rest in God. Love also played a significant role during his conversion. It helped guide him towards God and Christ in a positive way that influenced the rest of his life. All these various themes of love helped and guided Augustine through his conversion. This formation was the discovery of a new self and the discovery of the new world he sees now through his conversion. The conversion taught him truth and to believe in God. His desire to understand wisdom, which was through the readings by Cicero, brought about a new view for Christ. Though he converted, Augustine’s full connection with the love of Christ was still yet incomplete for him. His mind was not satisfied with any one direction. The most critical and influential form of love that Augustine had was love for God and the love for Christ. It was almost as if he was exposed to a new realm and he opened up his life up to God more and more each day by praising him, telling God how much he loves him now. Augustine states, â€Å"then, O Lord, you laid your most gentle, most merciful finger on my heart and set my thoughts in order, for I began to realize that I believed countless things which I had never seen or which I had taken place when I was not there to see† (Confessions, VI). The Confessions tells a story in the form of a long conversion with God. Through this conversion to Catholic Christianity, Augustine encounters many aspects of love. These forms of love guide him towards an ultimate relationship with God. His restless heart finally finds peace and rest in God after the conversion. Augustine finds many ways in which he can find peace in God. He is genuinely sorry for having turned away from God, the one source of peace and happiness. Augustine is extremely thankful for having been given the opportunity to live with God. Augustine uses love as his gate to God’s grace. All in all, the Confessions can be read as Augustine’s way of redemption from his sins and his revelation of love to God and Christ. Augustine’s transition from a sinner to a faithful Christian was also evidence to God’s greatness. Even though Augustine committed unacceptable sins, it was a good thing for him in that he found the strength to believe and love God. This is because of what he has obtained from analyzing texts, such as Cicero’s writings, and Christian philosophy and the fact that he can truly understand the root causes of his sins that he committed instead of simply implying them based on what a book says.

Benefits Of Multinational Corporations Essay

Like any other multinational corporation, Acme Motors have been coupled with various economic implications and benefits to the foreign countries in which it operates. Acme is a motor vehicle company headquartered in Nuevo Laredo but performing other international business in Mexico, Spain and other countries. In the foreign countries, it has been involved in the manufacturing of motor vehicle engines above their assembly to complete vehicles. The performance of the company is usually fed by a number of comparative advantages which are implied by its operational capacity. Generally, the large scale capacity of the company has been a major advantage which the company uses to create economics of scale in its operational system through its broad endowed portfolio of technology. It has been able to successfully compete in the foreign international market which is highly competitive. The company has various artistic and management tools that help to impair the effects of foreign business culture which may lead to operational failures. It has a wide management support which compound the tools of research into the broad market and political risks operating in the foreign market which may bring operational losses. Either it has also used the tools of mergers and acquisitions to help prevent the negative impacts of foreign market infestations. (Skene, 1992) However, the operational portfolio of the company has been faced by the challenges of negative externalities of environmental pollution and degradation in the host countries. Basically, the industrial nature of the company compounds various environmental degrading facets which include resource over exploitation emission to the air pollution, water pollution and the general socio-economic implications which are of negative external capacity. However, the problem of environmental pollution and degradation to the company allies to been a fatal problem which has even called for various statutory control programs both by the company and the state government. Usually the tool of increasing taxation has been a subjective implication which has helped the company to change its industrial characteristics. Through higher cost levies by such foreign governments, the company has changed its industrial technology to more environmental friendly methods which cause less pollution. Generally, through such taxes, the government has then compensated the society for such environmental pollutions above supplying various public goods which benefit the people. (Wray, 1997) To the company, the tools for control of environmental degradation have posited various cost implications both in the short run and in the long run. Since the system for implementing environmental control has been achieved through change in modifying operation to capture more friendly methods, this has however been costly. Higher cost has had a negative implication to increases in the cost in the short run. However, increases in cost have been ransomed through the use of proper management tools which ensure a well balanced business management conceptions which continue to provide the company competitively advantages in the market. However, the long run cost has been reduced through higher sells achievements from the active product support from the environmental friendly consumers. (Snowdon, Vane, 1997) Generally, as an important tool, the environmental aspect is an important tool which the company and any other should apply in the international portfolio. The cost of environmental degradation is costly and would perhaps outweigh the benefit cost relationship which provides grounds for competitive advantage at the market. Either, it is important in safeguarding the broad interest of the society with which the manufacturing (industrial) activity is allied to. Reference Skene, G, (1992) Cycles of inflation and Deflation: Money, Debt at the 1920’s. Westport CT: Praeger. Snowdon, B & Vane, H, (1997) A Macroeconomic Reader. London; Rout ledge. Underwood D, (2004) Principle of Macroeconomics; Toward a Multiparadigmatic approach. Journal Economic issues, Vol. 38. Wray, L (1997) Kenneth Bouding’s Reconstruction of Macroeconomics. Review of social economy, Vol. 55.

The Effects of Sleep Deprivation

There are few things that mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have in common; sleep is one of them. Sleep is when the body completely relaxes, sensory activities are suspended, and a lack of consciousness takes effect. Humans need to sleep on a daily basis in order for our bodies to function properly. The average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep each day, and not getting adequate sleep can lead to sleep deprivation. Some symptoms of sleep deprivation include constant yawning, grogginess when waking up in the morning, poor concentration and mood changes. Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on both your mental and physical health. The causes of sleep deprivation can range greatly from person to person, but most often they can be broken down in to three categories which include choosing to sleep too little, lack of time to sleep, and medical conditions that make sleeping difficult. We live in a fast-paced society that places a high value on activity. Some believe that sleep isn’t necessary, and they try to limit the amount of sleep they get. Some people would rather stay up later to read a book, watch television, or socialize with their friends or partners instead of going to sleep at a reasonable time. Other people find that there just isn’t enough time in the day to devote to sleeping. Sometimes people who have jobs that require long hours, or who have tasks that cannot be avoided will find they are sleep deprived due to a lack of time. Medical conditions may also play a large role in sleep deprivation. Sleep apnea is a condition where the person actually wakes themselves multiple times through the night because they stop breathing. Stress and anxiety may also play a role in insomnia, which is being able to fall asleep and stay asleep. Memory is one of the largest areas that can be affected by too little sleep. College students may stay up all night â€Å"cramming† for their exams, just to find that in the morning they really don’t remember anything. That is because your brain consolidates memories at a certain point in your sleep, which causes the memory to become stable. Without sleep it’s very difficult for your brain to retain information. Poor judgment is also a possibility if you are lacking sleep. Have you ever heard anyone use the term â€Å"let me sleep on it†? It’s for good reason seeing as how lack of sleep can actually impair judgment. Poor Judgment also goes hand-in-hand with the lack of focus and attention caused by sleep deprivation. When you go without enough sleep, you become less and less alert to your surroundings, and your ability to think and process information is decreased because of your excessive sleepiness during the day. Not only can too little sleep be harmful for you, it can also be harmful to those around you. If you work in a field that requires you to be on your toes at all times, yet you re significantly sleep deprived, you are more at risk for work-related injuries. Pilots, for example are now required to get a set amount of sleep before flying. People working in the medical field, or emergency services field should also be required to get set amounts of sleep due to the fact that they are protecting the lives of others and need to make sound decisions. Automobile accidents can also be cause by sleep deprivation. Driving drowsy can produce the same hazardous effects as driving drunk, and it causes thousands of automobile accidents and fatalities every year. Sleep deprivation may also lead to risky decision-making. People who have been awake for extended periods of time can’t accurately assess risks that are associated with certain situations. Being awake for 24 hours can produce some of the same effects as a 0. 1% blood alcohol level, which would be the equivalent of having 6 glasses of wine in one hour. No wonder getting too little sleep is so dangerous. Lack of sleep leads to many mental dysfunctions, but it has repercussions on physical appearance as well. Getting too little sleep on a consistent basis will start to alter your body’s ability to metabolize glucose, which can in turn make you look significantly older than you actually are. The amount of time we spend sleeping can drastically change our appetites and the ways we think about food. This may over time lead to sudden weight gains or losses. These changes happen because of the peptides Ghrelin and Leptin sends signals to the brain to tell it that it’s satisfied, and suppresses appetite, while Ghrelin does the opposite and stimulates hunger. Not getting enough sleep often decreases levels of Leptin, and increases levels of Ghrelin which may cause changes in appetite resulting in weight changes. It is apparent that sleep deprivation can have serious effects on both physical and mental health, but how do we break the cycle of too little sleep? I believe more emphasis should be put on how important it is to get your fill of shut eye every night. How many accidents can be avoided, and how many medical conditions averted just by getting adequate sleep at night? Society needs to start putting a higher value on our sleep, and in turn we may see a rise in our productivity. For the people who have medical problems and find sleep nearly impossible I urge you to seek help from a doctor. Do whatever you must do to improve your quality and quantity of sleep each night and in turn be happier, be healthier and live longer.

Using Your Manager Skills Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Using Your Manager Skills - Research Paper Example First is the definition of the words used in defining the act pollutant, point source, navigable waters, and person (Manheim, 2009). Pollutant represents the solid waste, sewage, sewage sludge, biological materials, municipal, industrial, agricultural, discarded equipment and other forms of waste dumped into the water. The point source defines pipes, vessels, or containers from which pollutants are discharged. Navigable waters are water surfaces including wetlands whether or not water vessels use them. Finally, person defines corporations, government agencies, and actual people that may dump waste in water (Manheim, 2009). Secondly, the meaning of â€Å"in compliance† with the clean water act is also fundamental in understanding the act. It means that before an individual releases waste into the water, he or she must receive approval from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Ferrey, 2010). The permit provided by the agency is dependent on the individual’s waste components in accordance with the effluent limitations. The effluent limitations are limits that determine the amount and type of pollutant that can be put in a particular mass of water (Buck, 2006). This ensures that the waste dumped in particular water masses does not have a negative impact on the people that use the water. It uses technology-based standards to determine the best existing technology that every industry can use to control water contamination. For instance, it ensures that an individual has treated the waste and reduce pollutants in the water as much as possible. Additionally, the agency determines whether a particular water surface can handle any more waste products or not. Solid Waste Disposal Act deals with solid waste disposal. Solid waste includes refuse, garbage, industrial waste, and sludge from waste treatment plants. The act aims to reduce solid waste contamination in the environment by developing cost-effective and environmentally

I don't have one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

I don't have one - Essay Example In the short story, drugs led to his incarceration, thus increasing his predicament. However, his aptitude in jazz music has significantly aided him in alleviating his challenges. In James Baldwin’s short story, titled Sonny’s Blues, the narrator depicts Sonny as a teenaged character struggling with various challenges in the slums of Harlem. The story’s setting is in the middle of the 20th century, a time when racial discrimination was at all times high. Racial discrimination against the African Americans by the whites came in all forms thus posing tremendous negative or undesirable effects in the society. The narrator, an anonymous character, gives a picture of Sonny fighting drug abuse and other social dilemmas through jazz music, which he strongly disapproves. Moreover, he says "and his music seemed to be merely an excuse for the life he led† (Madden 321). The writer describes how Sonny uses his artful skills in mitigating his challenges that include drug abuse and poverty. In one instance, the narrator shows how Sonny hangs in several nightclubs, in a bid to use his talent in jazz music to avert drug (heroin) addiction. His brother, the narrator does not understand his passion in music until one day when they go together in a nightclub (Schewhn and Bass 331). In that particular occasion, the narrator realizes the power of music in keeping Sonny sound and normal, while staying away from drugs and other social tribulations that significantly affects his life. However, his jazz musical talent could have a negative effect on him since the narrator’s in-laws took him as a low-classed boy. In addition, Sonny’s involvement in jazz music led him into drug addiction, a condition he unsuccessfully tried to eliminate. His addiction has also landed him in jail and severely affected his relationship with his brother, the narrator (F einstein and Rife 506). Through his jazz music, Sonny is able to communicate the

The Phenomenon of Arbitration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Phenomenon of Arbitration - Essay Example In 1931, American Congress came up with Davis-Bacon Act; the act was created for the purpose of minimum wages to be paid to those employees who are under the contracts. In 1932 Norris-LaGuardia Act was passed. The Act was created to entitle labor unions for their strikes. It also gave lots of freedom to labor unions to deal with managements. In 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act came up with the rule of collective bargaining. This Act talked about fixed working hours of labors. In 1935 National Labor Relations Act also known as Wagner Act. In 1936 Anti-strike breaker law came into the picture. It was known as Byrnes Act. It was very effective in against of force full attempts of managements to break any labor strike. There are different workplace factors that can cause workplace fatalities. It is often being noticed that many organizations are engaged in different risk operations. Labor's day in day out put their lives under serious threats. But labors take very fewer precautions or preventive measures. Sometimes security facilities are absent in factories. It is often being noticed that old outdated technologies or machines can be very risky and dangerous. Workplace fatalities are very common but unwanted incidents. Most of the time's management negligence are towards their workers are responsible for these kinds of mishaps. Occupational Safety and Health Act has reduced the numbers of workplace fatalities. Before this act, there was no such provision to take care of workers safety and security in their workplaces.

World Trade Organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

World Trade Organisation - Essay Example Then after the organisation's final decision a panel is set to hear the issues raised. This panel encourages countries to resolve disputes themselves and if necessary the panel gives compulsory decisions which can be appealed. If a country turns down the appeal then it is forced to change its trade policies or World Trade Organisation authorizes those countries harmed by the policies to impose retaliatory measures to the offending country. These measures include an increase in tariffs, use of subsidies or any other protectionist measure. These measures are a clear indication that World Trade Organisation is based on mercantilist principles and is not aimed at bringing unity among member countries by encouraging free trade. The organisation has principles governing its activities like the non discrimination principle, the reciprocity principle and the transparency principles but it rarely uses them. Mercantilism is termed as an economic assumption that makes a country prosper. It mostly depends on the capital supply and the volume resulting from international trade. Capital in this theory is represented by silver, gold and any other trade value which the country has. The capital is increased by creating a positive balance in trade with other nations. The country plays protectionist measures whereby it protects its domestic firms against competition from foreigners by use of tariffs, subsidies and quotas. Mercantilism contains policies that the given countries should follow. For example, mercantilism allows a country to utilise its soil for agricultural activities, mining and manufacturing of products. It also allows a country to use its raw materials to manufacture goods since it assumes that finished goods have more value than the materials. This rule also discourages the importation of foreign goods and also says that no importation should be made if the goods are produced in the country. Mercantilism encourages countries to obtain imports that are indispensable first in exchange of other locally produced goods but not silver or gold. This practice encourages countries to seek to have a large working force because it is one of the policies in mercantilism. Countries are also allowed to seek opportunities for selling excess manufacturers to the foreign firms in exchange of gold or silver. Mercantilists assume that only one country should benefit while the other countries should loose in the process. They also believe that any policies that benefit one country can harm the other country by making that country not to experience economic growth thus not helping them to develop. Although most countries practice liberalism mercantilist principles are still common in other countries. The liberalism method has not benefited all trading partners. Countries practicing neo mercantilism have experienced high economic growth compared to countries practicing free tra de. For example, the US and United Kingdom have experienced slow economic growth after adapting free trade. WTO

The Treatment of Investments in Intellectual Property at Apple Research Paper

The Treatment of Investments in Intellectual Property at Apple - Research Paper Example While these attributes have become the focus of regulation of SFAS 2 and subsequent standards SFAS 68 and 86, the objective determination thereof remains elusive and indeterminate, and therefore open to managerial discretion. The study also comments on the differences in accounting treatment among standards, such as between the SFAS and the IAS, concerning R&D expenditures. In the past it has been found that regulations allows for large write-offs of acquired R&D in favor of the acquirer, which have been tightened by recently developed standards embodied in SFAS 141 and 142. From published reports, Apple appears substantially and formally compliant with these regulations; however, greater detail and information on specific projects unavailable in the published reports would be required by a sitting and competent body to assess whether these treatments are fully compliant with the letter and spirit of SFAS. ... How close to actuality a firm assesses the value of its assets depends upon how faithfully the accounting treatment mirrors the nature of the asset. Tangible assets are easily valued; intangible ones are more ambiguous. Of all intangible assets a technology corporation, the most important – and most difficult to assess – is its intellectual property, and the research and development effort that goes into building it. Research efforts, when successful, lay the foundation for the company’s incomes for the long-term, and therefore should be capitalized; however, since a good amount of R&D efforts are not successful, there is also a possibility that these costs would have short-term implications that does not justify depreciation into the future. This research paper will search for answers to the question: How does a high-technology company with its own proprietary research and development treat its R&D expenditures treat its research and development costs in its fin ancial reports, given that research and development efforts may or may not result in marketable products? The study shall focus on the procedure applied in Apple, Inc., the company of choice because of their high-profile, highly successful new technologies in personal communication devices, for both hardware and software. U.S. GAAP for Research and Development Expenditures The U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is the body of accounting rules and standards according to which financial statements for companies in the U.S. are prepared, particularly publicly traded and held companies and non-profit organizations. The U.S. GAAP is embodied in the

Radio activity Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Radio activity - Lab Report Example This experiment illustrates that coins can be used in the laboratory to visualize the process of radioactivity. Radioactivity is a terminology used to refer to the spontaneous changes that occur in the nucleus of unstable atoms accompanied by release particles or electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, it is caused by conflict of two strongest in nature. In connection to this, there are several nuclear isotopes. These isotopes emit radiation and are unstable; some of the radiations emitted by these isotopes are gamma, alpha, and neutron emissions. Gamma radiations are photons that are packets of electromagnetic energy. In the electromagnetic energy spectrum, gamma radiations are the most energetic ionizing radiation. They have about 10,000 more energy than the photons that are found in the visible electromagnetic spectrum. In addition, they also have no electrical charge and mass. Since they have high energy, they can travel at the speed that is equal to that of the light and go for long distances without losing their energy. As a result, they are very dangerous and pass through the human body. Alpha particles, on the other hand, have two protons and two neutrons and, therefore, are the same as a helium particle. When an alpha particle is emitted the parent nucleus changes to another element. A neutron particle on the hand has no charge and, therefore, is neutral. Radioactivity is a random process therefore it is impossible to predict the specific time when a particular atom will decay (Cutnell and Johnson 6). Due to the random nature of radioactivity it is, therefore, a probability event that is entirely dependent on chance. In radioactivity, the half-life is the time taken for the number of radio nuclei of a radioactive sample to reduce to half. The randomness of radioactivity process can be compared to the tossing of a coin activity because the chances of a head or a

Architecture and Avant-garde Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Architecture and Avant-garde - Essay Example As acknowledged within the abstract section, Avant Garde is the French version for vanguard culture. In the context of art, vanguard culture refers to non-conformational and experimental approach of developing objects of art like music, structures and paintings. Dorita (2013) says that Avant Garde is distinct from traditional art of 19th Century because it employs substantial innovation and advanced skills in developing iconic pieces of art. This form of culture became dominant during the first four decades of 20th Century, especially in Europe and America. In operation, vanguard culture opposed mainstream norms. It labeled mainstream values as resulting from mass production effects of industrial revolution during the 19th Century. Early founders of Avant Garde criticized the manner in which traditional art and architecture incorporated superficial styling of objects in the name of innovation. In this regard, it sought to distance itself from mainstream habits and foster individual c reativity. It involved seeking autonomous excellence in artistic merit rather than following rigid conventions. Having gained an insight about Avant Garde, it is appropriate to extrapolate on the two concepts of modernism and postmodernism. Sharp (2002) says that most essayists including Max Horkheimer and Adorno assert that vanguard culture serves as an icon for modernism. According to Sharp (2002), autonomy in stylish creativity and innovation creates a distinction and draws boundaries between modernism and the post form. of modernism. In this context, modernism covers the artistic period of early 20th Century, especially the first four decades of this century. According to Heynen (2000), it was a period marked by employment of human intellect in enhancing aesthetical values of art. Innovations and autonomous creativity of modernism led to significant improvement in science and technology. In addition, vanguard ideologies motivated experimentation on almost all spheres of life as seen in architecture. It adopted a hierarchical and procedural approach of acquiring and applying knowledge in improving state of art. According to Heynen (2000), modernism is closely associated with the use of rational thinking models and logic in gaining and utilizing knowledge. Supposedly, modernism ended after 1945, thus giving way to postmodernism. Postmodernism Goldhagen (2005) says that as opposed to modernistic principles of logic and rational thinking, postmodernism adopts unscientific and irrational approach towards art. In the first four decades of 20th Century, architectural designs were taken as representing unique and genuine creativity of artists. However, postmodernism does not regard the work of architecture as the originating from authentic skills of an individual. According to Scoffham and Machedon (1999), postmodern era is marked by subjective and hyper-realistic models of thought as opposed to rigid and logical

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 73

Reflection - Essay Example I have taken this concept of leadership from the leader of Starbucks where he consults and engages the low level staff before making a decision. Thirdly, and lastly, I have learnt the concept of objectivity and subjectivity in relation to financial management and asset acquisition. This is from the considerations that the Starbucks Company has to consider some aspects accepting offers. All these concepts that I have learnt apply both to my professional and personal life in terms of being an effective resources manager pertaining to corporate resources and making personal budgets to avoid spendthrift activities (CheckMate, 2009). Leadership also applies to both professional and personal life in that I will engage the junior employees in a company once employed and even in my personal life I will be an effective leader. Lastly, the concept of critical analysis and subjectivity and objectivity applies in my professional life in terms of assessing all aspects before making decisions on taking or dropping offers or venture g into a certain activity. This applies in my personal life as well since it can help me in making a decision with first assessing the different

The Black Hearts of Men Essay Example for Free

The Black Hearts of Men Essay John Stauffer, in his book The Black Hearts of Men sets out to make one simple point through four men. He aims to bring to light the unified and revolutionary goals of what he describes as â€Å"the only true revolutionaries† among antebellum abolitionists. These were John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Dr. James McCune Smith, and Gerrit Smith. By describing for the first time these personalities and their actions as a form of sociological struggle, Stauffer sheds new light on a dark moment in American history One of the goals that Stauffer is intent upon is proving that these important figures beliefs were more than just religion and reform but more specifically religion and class. This is an important distinction, because by attempting to prove this the author will show perhaps a bit more far reaching importance of their work. Rather than treat them as isolated agents of change, he treats them as representatives of a social construct. This then lends more credence to their ideals and the criticism of the society in which they lived. Stauffer does an especially good job in proving this in chapter entitled Glimpsing God’s World on Earth. Here, nearly contrary to the title he analyzes this view. Especially focusing on the better known John Brown (as compared to the others in the book), he shows that the struggles to change society were just that – an effort to change equalities of classes – and not just a blind attempt to change laws. Another important facet of Stauffer’s writing appears to be his rejuvenation of the history of Gerrit Smith. Despite the fact that the book features aspects of the very well known Douglass, and the infamous Brown, it is the focusing of narrative on Smith that sets this book apart from others on the subject. In this way, too, he restresses the vitality of his original point about the abolitionist movement being part of a greater class struggle, and therefore more important to America’s history than generally related. Each chapter returns to Smith in some way and with some new angle, to bring out the key figure’s integral part in the events. This in an unexpected thing, and again is successful. Chapter 5, Bible Politics and the Creation of the Alliance shows how this is accomplished. What is expected is a religious treatment on how everyone should be equal and loved. However, what is discussed is Smith’s vision: that the Bible is a socio-political tool that can be used not to justify merely universal love, but as a catalyst for social change. It is Smith that is given credit by Stauffer, and perhaps very justly, for the larger guiding principles of the movement. The third function of The Black Hearts of Men is to bring out into the open the unjust blindness the country has regarding Smith, Brown, Smith and Douglass. Even worse is the general ignorance of them shown by even their contemporary abolitionists as soon as 1874. According to Stauffer, the history of these men, their aims and their achievements began to fade as soon as their alliance was broken. Certainly Douglass’s fierce orations on the subject of slavery are remembered in textbooks today. Likewise, John Brown and his daring raid on Harper’s Ferry are also found in popular retellings of the Civil War. However, there is no mention neither Gerrit Smith, nor Dr. James McCune Smith. In point of fact, these latter two are not only unmentioned, but are completely forgotten throughout history in its popular sense. Perhaps worst of all, Stauffer implies, is that the connections between even the two remembered figures are severed. There is no sense of a joined movement or ideals between the two. They are just revolutionaries who are known for their behaviors and actions, not shared sense of a larger, social and class related revolution. They were out to form the perfect world – but are only known as abolitionist icons. John Stauffer’s aims of his book are far-reaching and accomplished. The Black Hearts of Men is successful because it accomplished the relation of its purposes. It brings to light the unified and revolutionary goals of what he describes as the true revolutionaries among antebellum abolitionists and their personal histories are properly rejuvenated. Most importantly, the book succeeds in showing just how much more there was to the abolitionist movement – not just revolutionary zeal, but agent for sociological change. ? BIBLIOGRAPHY John Stauffer. The Black Hearts of Men: Radical Abolitionists and the Transformation of Race. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2001.

Comparison Between Air And Rail Transport Engineering Essay

Comparison Between Air And Rail Transport Engineering Essay Introduction According to the World Energy Council (WEC, 2011), transport sector global energy consumption in 2010 was almost 2,200 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE), representing about 19% of world energy resources. Currently, more than 96% of total energy supply to transport comes from oil (WEF, 2011); in 2010, around 60% of oil production worldwide was consumed by the transport sector (IEA, 2012). In particular, transport accounted for 38% of total energy consumption in the UK in 2011 (DECC, 2012), and for 27.8% in the U.S. the same year (EERE, 2012). Carbon emissions are closely related to energy consumption in the transport sector and in 2010 it accounted for about 23% of global levels of CO2 emissions (WEC, 211). Economic development and population growth are increasing the energy consumption of transport (WEC, 2011); however dependence on oil supplies, inefficient use of resources and associated CO2 emissions make the growth of this sector a completely unsustainable process (WEF, 2011). It is necessary to evaluate the energy efficiency of transport sector and improve its processes through technology and practice in order to achieve world sustainable development goals. The purpose of this report is to evaluate and compare air and rail transport, in terms of their relative use of energy and their CO2 emissions, and also consider the potential strategies to improve the energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions from these modes of transport. Air transport is the fastest-growing mode of transport (WEF, 2011) and it is considered to be, after diesel engine cars, the most contaminating one (Chapman, 2007) and rail transport is commonly referred to as the cleanest alternative. Definitions It is convenient to clarify some concepts in order to have a more precise comprehension of how energy use and energy efficiency are measured in the transport sector, before the analysis of air and rail transport. Energy efficiency is defined as the relationship between the energy consumed and the output produced by that energy (EEDO, 2012: 19). When efficiency is higher, more products or services can be produced with the same amount energy. This information is useful when comparing similar technologies or processes; however, air and rail transport are different technologies that consume energy in different ways to produce the same service, so it is more practical to compare them in terms of energy intensity (EERE, 2012a), which is essentially the inverse of energy efficiency and in transport is the amount of energy required to move one passenger over 1 kilometer, or passenger-km (NRC, 2011). For freight transport energy intensity would be energy per ton-km, but this report will focus on passenger transport to reduce the number of variables in intensity calculation and simplify the comparison. Use of energy As illustrated in Fig 1., road transport is responsible for the majority of total transport energy consumption in 2010, around 76%, while air transport accounted for about 10% of the total and rail transport for 3% approximately (WEF, 2011). Fig. 1. 2010 Transport energy consumption by mode (total ~2,200 MTOE) (WEF, 2011) These percentages represent the absolute values of air and rail transport energy use with respect to total consumption. In order to compare them with respect to each other, it is necessary to analyze first where they take energy from and how each mode of transport invest the energy to be able to move and transport people, in this case, from one location to another. Currently, rail transport energy supply comes mainly from diesel (88%) and electricity (12%) (IEA, 2008). Due to the low resistance of rail vehicles on railways (steel on steel) and high efficiencies of electric and diesel engines, diesel engine efficiency is around 45% (Beggs, 2009), rail transport presents a potential advantage over other modes of transport, but the determinant aspects on rail passenger transport efficiency are the services on board, the technology, the speed of the train and the occupancy (Fraser J., et al 1995). Aerodynamic trains can be very energy efficient compared to previous model, however, when their speed increases over 200 km/h, energy consumption also increases significantly due to air drag (Beggs, 2009). As passenger trains can weight up to 90 tons, the energy efficiency of an empty train is almost the same as if it is full. Intensity increases [kJ/p-km] as number of passenger decrease; therefore energy efficiency is very related to occupancy rates (Fraser J., et al 1995). Fuel accounts for 20% of modern aircraft total operating costs; therefore fuel consumption reduction is a priority for aircraft and engine manufacturers to increase energy efficiency (Kahn S., et al 2007). Similarly to trains, aircrafts need to use energy to overcome the air drag force, but, unlike trains, planes also consume energy standing up (Mackay 2008). Studying the relative energy consumption per seat, for a London to Edinburgh journey with different occupancy rates, Kemp (2004) as cited by Beggs (2009), found that rail transport is indeed more efficient than air transport. However, this statement is not true when it applies to rail vehicles travelling at 350 km/h or more, where it consumes slightly more energy than the aircraft, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 2. Energy consumed by various modes of transport from London to Edinburgh (Beggs, 2011). Carbon emissions In the transport sector CO2 emissions are closely related to energy consumption. CO2 emissions from air transport will vary depending on technology, occupancy rat and route (DTF, 2011), although aircrafts produce other greenhouse gases apart from CO2 such as water , ozone and nitrousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨oxides (Mackay 2008). The following figure, Fig 3., presents CO2 emissions per passenger-km and per mode of transport in Europe. Rail transport is the second less polluting mode of transport and according to the European Environment Agency (EEA, 2011), shifting from diesel to electric trains has decreased the carbon emissions of rail transport by about 27 % from 1995 to 2009. CO2 emissions of air transport have also decreased by 29% due to aircraft technologies improvements and higher occupancy rates. Fig. 3. Specific CO2 emissions per passenger-km and per mode of transport in Europe, 1995-2009 (EEA, 2011) Potential improvements Energy efficiencies of air transport can be improved by reducing fuel consumption through aircraft technology improvements, infrastructure improvements, operations improvements and use of biofuels (WEF, 2011). Reducing weight and drag are some of the objectives, although according to Mackay (2008: 35) no redesign of a planeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨is going to radically improve its efficiency. Regarding rail transport, again, it is important to reduce weight and aerodynamic resistance improving trains infrastructure to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Also, higher efficiency propulsion system and better regenerative brake mechanisms are some of the potential improvements (Kahn et al, 2007). Conclusions This report intended to present a general view of the relationship between transport sector and global energy, focusing on a comparison between air and rail transport modes in terms of their use of energy and their CO2 emissions, based mainly on global official energy agencies and organizations. It was found that rail transport appears to use energy more efficiency than air transport, as well as lower CO2 emissions. However, rail vehicles speed and occupancy rates are determinant aspects when evaluating energy efficiency and carbon emissions. In order to evaluate appropriately the energy efficiency of modes of transport and present reliable results, it is necessary to consider all the energy system inputs and outputs. With appropriate practices and technology developments it is possible to achieve higher transport efficiencies and decrease the environmental impact of the transport sector.

Climate Change Impact On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change Impact On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences Essay INTRODUCTION:- Extended periods of summers or winters, unusual rains, extreme droughts or floods and many more natural calamities that human started experiencing is depicting one phenomenon: Climate Change. Climate of any region refers to averaged weather over a period of 30 years or more and climate change refers to a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns, over a period ranging from decades to million. According to IPCC, climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer, this could be naturally or can be caused by the anthropogenic agents. However United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) considers only those changes which are in addition to the natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods and are attributed directly or indirectly to human activi ty that alters the composition of the global atmosphere. Within the past 100 years global temperature has increased approximately 0.6  °C, and is projected to rise by 2 to 4  °C by the end of this century (IPCC 2007). This increase in earth surface temperature cause glaciers shrinkage, melting of ice, sea level rise, changes of large ocean currents, shifts in the rainfall, evaporation and runoff pattern and thus affecting regional weather system and considerably influencing human and other life forms. Carbon dioxide is considered to be the main causative force attributing to climate change along with other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrogen oxide etc., which induces the warming of earth surface. Climate change is the biggest global challenge before mankind and fisheries is one of the sector which seems to be under imminent threat as alteration in water flow, fluctuation in water temperature and alteration in water quality influences the metabolic rate which regulates the important activities like feeding, digestion, growth rate, maturation, breeding and survival of fish. According to Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC) global warming lead to disappearance of Salmon and Trout as much as 18 to 38 per cent of their habitat by the year 2090. And India having a vast coast line (8129 kms) is highly vulnerable to effects brought about by climate change and the rise in sea level can cause an ecological disaster (UNEP, 1989). This articles deal with enlisting some of the major impacts climate change will have on marine fisheries. Impact on physical environments As the temperature is increasing, the oceans are warming, but with geographical differences and some decadal variability. Global average sea level has been rising since 1961, but the rate has been accelerated since 1993. Higher frequency and intensity climate processes, such as El Nià ±o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and decadal-scale regime shifts, are expected to continue, with possible increases in their intensity or/and frequency in coming decades. Warming is more intense in surface waters but is not exclusive to these, with the Atlantic showing particularly clear signs of deep warming. Changes in ocean salinity have been observed, with increasing in salinity in near-surface waters in the more evaporative regions near to equator, and high latitudes showing decreasing salinity due to greater precipitation, higher runoff, melting ice and advection. The oceans are also becoming more acidic, with likely negative consequences to many coral reef and calcium-bearing organisms. Although there are no clearly discernible net changes in ocean upwelling patterns, there are indications that their seasonality may be affected. It is very likely that over the short term (within a few years), there will be negative impacts on the physiology of fish in localities where temperature increases, through limiting oxygen transport. Impact on biological functions and fish stocks Although large regional differences exist, especially at regional scales, most models predict a slight decrease in primary production in the seas and oceans and many models predict composition shifts to smaller phytoplankton which are likely to lead to changes in food webs in general. Changes in fish distributions in response to climate variations have been observed, generally consisting of pole ward expansions of warmer-water species and pole ward contractions of colder-water species. Changes are likely to affect pelagic species more rapidly than other species groups. Some examples of responses to climate change by different marine species are discernible in the Indian seas. (1) Until 1985, almost the entire catch of Oil sardine and Indian mackerel was from the Malabar upwelling zone and the catch was either very low or there was no catch from latitudes north of 14  °N. In the last two decades, however, the catches from latitude 14  °N to 20  °N are increasing which shows an e xtension of distributional boundary and a positive correlation was found between the catches and sea surface temperature (SST). (2) During 1970-2007, the catches of Catfish from southwest and southeast coasts decreased. On the other hand, the catches from the northwest and northeast coasts increased during the same period. It shows the strong negative correlation between catfish catch and SST along the two southern coasts and positive correlation between catch and SST along the northern coasts and hence a good example of shift in latitudinal distribution and abundance (3) During 1985-1989, only 2% of mackerel catch was from bottom trawlers, and the rest of the catch was contributed by pelagic gear such as drift gillnet where as in 2003-2010, 15% of mackerel catch is contributed by bottom trawlers along the Indian coast which shows a shift in the depth of occurrence of mackerels. The Indian trawlers operate at a depth ranging from 20m to 80m by employing high opening trawlers. As the surface waters are also warming up, it appears that the mackerel, being a tropical fish, has extended its vertical boundary to deeper waters. (4) data on the number of female spawners of threadfin breams Nemipterus japonicus and N. mesoprion collected every month off Chennai (south-east coast of India) from 1981 to 2010 indicated a trend in the shifting of spawning season from warmer (April September) to cooler months (October March) was discernible. Impact on fishers and fishermen communities Other than the direct impact of climate change on the present day human life, there are a lot of indirect impacts which adversely affects the fisher which are as varied as the climate change themselves. Impacts would be felt through changes in capture, production and marketing costs, changes in sales prices, and possible increase in risks of damage or loss of infrastructure, fishing tools and housing. Fishery-dependent communities may also face increased vulnerability in terms of less stable livelihoods, decreases in availability or quality of fish for food, and safety risks due to fishing in harsher weather conditions and further from their landing sites. Within communities and households, existing gender issues related to differentiated access to resources and occupational change in markets, distribution and processing, where women currently play a significant role, may be heightened under conditions of stress and increased competition for resources and jobs stemming from climate c hange. Communities located in deltas, coral atolls and ice dominated coasts will also be particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and associated risks of flooding, saline intrusion and coastal erosion. Coastal communities and small island states without proper extreme weather adaptation programmes, in terms of infrastructure design, early warning systems and knowledge of appropriate behaviour, will also be at high risk. Salination of the agricultural fields due to seawater intrusion is negatively impacting the agriculture field, however this leads to taking aquaculture as major adaptive measure and thus adaptive role as an alternative livelihood, compensating for income and some aspects of food supply. Impact on Coral reef ecosystems Risks to coral reefs are not distributed equally. Three different time scales can be identified for climate change-related impacts to coral reef systems: years: increased temperature effects on coral bleaching; decades: increasing acidification and dissolution of carbonate structures of reefs; multidecades: weakening of structural integrity of reefs and increasing susceptibility to storms and erosion events. Increasing acidity (decreasing pH) is a significant and pervasive longer-term threat to coral reefs. Potential for coral reef systems to adapt to these environmental stresses is uncertain: symbiotic zooxanthellae may adapt to be more tolerant of high temperature whereas migration of corals to higher latitudes is unlikely. These declines in corals will have negative impacts on reef fish biodiversity along with the putting pressure on the integrity of the eco-system. Positive Impacts of climate change Some of the positive impacts includes Increased food conversion efficiencies growth rates due to warmer waters; Increased primary production would provide more food for filter-feeding invertebrates; Increased length of the growing season range expansions to pole wards due to decrease in ice; Sea level rise also has the potential to flood coastal land areas, mangrove and sea grass regions which may supply seed stock for aquaculture species. Shortened duration of larval cycles can also help in the availability of seeds. Potential adaptation measures in fisheries A wide range of adaptations is possible, either carried out in anticipation of future effects or in response to impacts once they have occurred. In general, responses to direct impacts of extreme events on fisheries infrastructure and communities are likely to be more effective if they are anticipatory, as part of long-term integrated management planning. However, preparation should be commensurate with risk, as excessive protective measures could themselves have negative social and economic impacts. Examples of potential adaptation measures in fisheries Impact of climate change on fisheries Potential adaptation measures Reduced yield Access higher value markets/ shifting targeted species. Increase effort or fishing power. Reduce costs to increase efficiency. Diversify livelihoods. Exit the fishery. Increased variability of yield Diversify livelihood. Design insurance schemes. Change in distribution of fisheries Migration of fishing effort/strategies and processing/distribution facilities. Reduced profitability Exit the fishery. Vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to flooding, sea level and surges Add new or improved physical defences. Managed retreat/accommodation. Rehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster response. Integrated coastal management. Set up early warning systems. Education. Increased dangers of fishing Set up weather warning system. Invest in improved vessel stability/safety/ communications. Influx of new fishers Support existing local management institutions, diversify livelihoods. Potential adaptation measures in post-harvest, distribution and markets Both capture fisheries and aquaculture feed into diverse and spatially extensive networks of supply and trade that connect production with consumers, adding significant value and generating important levels of employment. To some extent, this system can be used to provide an important mediation and buffering function to increasing variability in supply and source location, but direct impacts will also affect its ability to do so. A range of issues and adaptation measures can be considered. Table: Climate change-related impacts potential adaptation in post-harvest/distribution Impact on post harvest, distribution/markets Potential adaptation measures Reduced or more variable yields, supply timing Source products more widely, change species, add value, reduce losses Develop more flexible location strategies to access materials Improve communications and distribution systems Reduce costs to increase efficiency Diversify livelihoods Temperature, precipitation, other effects on post- harvest processes Change or improve processes and technologies Improve forecasting, information Vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to extreme events Add new or improved physical defences, accommodation to change Rehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster response Set up early warning systems, education Trade and market shocks Diversify markets and products Provide information services for anticipation of price or market shocks Management and institutional adaptations Ecosystem approaches to fisheries (EAF) and to aquaculture (EAA) that embed precautionary approach applications within integrated management (IM) across all sectors have the potential to increase ecosystem and community resilience and provide valuable frameworks for dealing with climate change. This would create flexible management systems and support decision-making under uncertainty. Where aquaculture could be used for adaptation in other sectors, planning would be required at appropriate system and management scales, such as watersheds, and estuaries. These approaches would serve to provide guidance in understanding and minimizing perverse incentives that lead to overcapacity, overfishing, excessive environmental impact and other harmful practices while, at the same time, defining positive incentives to meet sustainable development goals. Well defined sectoral performance criteria need to be set out to bring climate change threats, risks and potential adaptations within normal management practice. Public and private sector linkages and partnerships will be essential in developing efficient and effective responses. Market demands will be key mechanisms in supporting adaptation, and their impacts on equity among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers will need to be recognized and applied. Thus certification systems, including sustainability, organic, fair-trade and other criteria will need to be addressed more carefully in the context of climate change, and consider the potential for more vulnerable groups to take advantage of economic opportunity. Adaptation will need to contain strong mechanisms for equity, as increased competition may reduce access for poorer people and other vulnerable groups to production, employment and consumption. For the global issue of the climate change we can contribute through some of the goals which are given below: raising awareness of the impacts of climate change, to ensure that the special risks to the fishery sector are understood and used to plan national climate change responses, including setting of mitigation targets through mechanisms such as the Kyoto Protocol; reducing fuel subsidies granted to fishing fleets, to encourage energy efficiency and assist towards reducing overcapitalization in fisheries; supporting the use of static-gear pots, traps, longlines and gillnets, which uses less fuel than active gear such as trawls and seines and therefore emits less CO2; restoring mangroves and protecting coral reefs, which will contribute to CO2 absorption, coastal protection, fisheries and livelihoods; managing aquaculture to optimize carbon retention, reduce energy use and minimize impacts on mangroves and other important habitats; and Raising awareness through seafood campaigns, reducing food miles, and promoting corporate social responsibility in the commercial sector. promoting research on short- and medium-term climate change impacts to support the identification of vulnerability hot spots and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, including financing and risk reduction mechanisms aimed at enabling integrated and broader national planning; addressing other issues contributing to vulnerability of the sectors communities, such as access to markets and services, political representation and improved governance; and Engaging in long-term adaptation planning, including promotion of fisheries- and aquaculture related climate issues in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and National Adaptation Programs of Action, to address longer-term trends or potential large-scale shifts in resources or ecosystems.

Industrial Organizational Psychology Essay -- Psychology

During the late nineteenth century the compulsion to study and measure human motives and capabilities came about followed with the birth of the concept Industrial organizational psychology (Industrial/Organizational psychology, n.d.). Industrial organizational psychology, eminently referred to as I/O psychology, is the extension of psychology that applies psychological theories and the principles of organizations (Cherry, n.d.). Converging on the increasing workplace productivity and other issues related to the mental and physical well being of the employees (Cherry, n.d.). Psychologists evaluate companies and conduct leadership training based on the observations of employee behavior and attitudes that populate the company (Cherry, n.d.). Noting the systematic nature of psychological research some early psychologists sought out to apply the interpretation to business predicaments (Industrial/Organizational psychology, n.d.). Beseeched by numerous advertising executives, Walter Dill Scott wrote and published one of the first books linking psychology and the business world collectively (Industrial /Organizational psychology, n.d.). The Theory of Advertising written by Walter Dill Scott was recognized as the first book to link the two worlds of business and psychology, a commencement to the era. The nineteenth century brought about many writings from psychologists which had been influenced by the writing of others, each one having an impact on the I/O psychology movement (Industrial/Organizational psychology, n.d.). During World War I, in 1917, the applied psychology transformed into its own true branch and strengthened as the war raged on (McCarthy, 2002). Psychologists were able to investigate the morale, motivation a... ... Industrial/Organizational psychological methods are found to be the larger organizations of our time (Industrial/Organizational psychology, n.d.). A number of large American corporations namely AT&T, IBM, General Motors Corp., Ford Motor CO., and PepsiCo, Inc., currently have a staff of I/O psychology (Industrial/Organizational psychology, n.d.). In today’s work force there are a multitude of reasons for organizations to be interested in the social and psychological process to better understand how their organization and its employees produce a more productive and competitive company. In regards to these reasons the Industrial/Organizational psychology has had a profound impact on our workforce in the past, present, and near future; it is almost a wonder where we would be today if not for the founding fathers of this particular branch of psychology.

The Elements of a Real Athlete Essay example -- Sports Athletics Sport

The Elements of a Real Athlete   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When you think of an athlete, what comes to mind? The first things that probably come to mind are sports, entertainment, and physical abilities. If these are the first things you think of, then how would athletes significant? If you look at athletes from a different perspective, their significance can be seen. From this point of view one can see that athletes are significant because they provide role models, contribute to our business world, bring countries or groups of people together, and they provide sources of inspriration. Their prominence, which is enhanced by the media, can cause them to have a greater effect in these types of roles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Athletes are a big part of the business community. The media exposure athletes receives cause them to be perceived more as celebrities. It causes them to have a greater impact in the marketing and selling of products. For instance, the tremendous amount of media coverage that Michael Jordan received gave him a prominent role in the business world. Athletic companies and various kinds of businesses wanted him to endorse their products. Now, because of his Nike endorsement, the athletic apparel and shoe industries are a big part of the American economy. Through endorsements companies now look upon athletes to strengthen their products. In most cases, this method is usually successful. This gives an overall boost to the economy, hence fortifying athletes’ significance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With their functi...

On Classical Music, Heavy Metal, and Parenting :: Non-Fiction Essays

On Classical Music, Heavy Metal, and Parenting You know, much to my parents’ chagrin, I used to hate classical music. In retrospect it makes perfect sense. I would get up on weekends, and when I’d come downstairs, instead of being whisked away by the light, airy strings of The Red Priest, I would instead be jolted awake by the sound of my dog’s howling. Soon thereafter we got a second dog, and then, not only were the decibels doubled, but the howling of two dogs would beat together as their respective sound waves mingled. Maybe I never liked the music itself. Too soft, too boring. However, I’ll conveniently absolve myself of guilt and say that I hated the music because it was too often complemented by the throbbing beat of my dogs’ objection. I mean really, dogs have no shame. I took piano lessons for six years. Rather, they made me take them. This was not a voluntary undertaking. Ironically enough, that seemed to help very little to further what should have been love for the classical. No, I wasn’t studying Jazz piano. I was very much ensconced in the works of Bach, Chopin, Bartok and the like. I practiced a lot. I suppose that I should also mention the fact that I couldn’t play the instrument, and that my technical control over it wasn’t worth a damn. My teacher, who was and still is a wonderful woman, would sign me up for piano examinations. They were like aptitude tests. I would play before a judge, and in addition to memorizing and playing a few pieces, I would also be asked to bang out scales and progressions that I was expected to know. Which I didn’t. It was hard to become fond of such music when I began to associate it with recitation, obligation, and the cruel, brutally honest judgment of my abilities, that glorious, r ipe fruit of my toils. I think the judges would pass me because they felt sorry for me. My musical tastes went through a few unfortunate years. My parents openly refused to take my musical sensibility seriously. They thought I was a joke, and with unwavering stubbornness, and I suppose ignorance, I would pitch my nose in the air, insisting no no, this really is good music. In an effort to distance myself from what I thought was the pretentious, classical bore, I moved to the other side of the continuum, and discovered grunge and alternative rock, a musical genre that deliberately attempted to be non-musical and crude.

Introduction to ambahan Essay

Ambahans inscribed on a bamboo slat The ambahan is a literary product and poetic expression of the Southern Mangyans of Mindoro, Philippines. Although there are about seven different ethnic groups living in Mindoro, collectively called the Mangyans, these groups are quite distinct from each other as to language, customs, and way of living. Only the ethnic group living in the south of Mindoro, roughly comprising the areas within the municipalities of Bulalacao (San Pedro), Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, claims the name Mangyan as the descriptive title of their tribe. To stress their point, they might add the epiteth: â€Å"Hanunuo† Mangyan, that is, a â€Å"truly, real, genuine† Manygan. Together with their northern neighbors, the Buhids, they possess a pre-Spanish writing system, considered to be of Indic origin, with characters expressing the open syllables of the language. Two distinct syllabaries are still in practical use among the ethnic groups in Mindoro, viz. the north ern Buhid on one hand and the southern Buhid with the Hanunuo-Mangyans on the other. The existence of a writing system among these tribes certainly accounts largely for the wealth of literature prevalent among them. One of the literary products, the one written down most frequently on bamboo-tubes or slats, is the ambahan. For better understanding and appreciation of the ambahans presented here, a short outline on the character and use of the ambahan will be given here. As a definition, it can be stated that the ambahan is: A. A rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven syllable lines and having rhythmic end-syllables. B. It is most often presented as a chant without a determined musical pitch or accompaniment by musical instruments. C. Its purpose is to express in an allegorical way, liberally using poetic language, certain situations or certain characteristics referred to by the one reciting the poem. The meter of seven syllables in one line is the characteristic of the ambahan which most obviously distinguishes it from other kinds of Hanunuo-Mangyan poetry. However, there are exceptions to the rule. For instance, more than seven syllables may be found at the beginning of the ambahan, especially when it starts with the standard expression magkunkuno (speaks, says) because the one who â€Å"speaks† here may have a long name containing more than the usual seven syllables. Actually, these first lines should not be considered as part of the poem proper, but rather as an introduction to or an explanation of the circumstances which gave rise to the ambahan itself. Sometimes, there may be more than seven syllables because the employed word or words cannot be shortened and no other combination of words is available. On the other hand, a line may contain less than seven syllables in order to preserve the meaning of the line itself which might be disturbed if more syllables were added. However, the last exception rarely occurs. In an effort to conform to the rule of having only seven syllables in each line, the composer tries to fit his words within the pre-determined quantity of syllables. This accounts for the many elisions and contactions of words that make the reading of the ambahan in the Hanunuo-Mangyan script so difficult and exasperating to the translator. Thus nirwasan comes from niruwasan; nilkasan from nilukasan; the mono-syllables gin from ginan; u from una. Conversely, the words may be extended, i.e. syllables may be added in order to have the required seven syllables. In most cases, the normal procedure involves the use of affixes and suffixes, both of which are extensively used in the Philippine languages. The most common one in the Hanunuo-Mangyan language is the suffix -an. Manok becomes manukan, balunos becomes balunusan, without a change in meaning. Within the word, â€Å"extensions† may also be found which might be old infixes, no longer common. So dayap becomes dalayap, layaw becomes lugayaw. Another way of lengthening a word is by repeating the word itself, not so much to make it superlative in meaning (e.g. in Tagalog: laking-laki), but rat her to complete the seven syllable requirement. While it is not my intention to be technical on this point, as a linguist’s analysis of morphological phenomena would be, the foregoing illustrations demonstrate that the prescribed scheme of seven syllables in ambahan verse gives ample opportunity for lexical calisthenics, an exercise which may fascinate many students. The rhyming end-syllables are an essential feature of the ambahan. The most common rhyming syllable is -an, being a regular suffix for verbs and substantives in the Hanunuo-Mangyan language. But other combinations with the vowel a are rather common too, such as in lines having the end-syllables: a, ak, ag, ang, as, aw, ay. Here the vowel a is combined with nearly all the consonants in the Philippine alphabet. In the same way, the vowels I (or e) and o (or u) can be found as the rhyming syllables, either alone or in combination, e.g.: I, id, ing, ip, it, and o, od, ok, on, ong, os, ot, oy. The rhyming in the ambahan is consequent, i.e. once started with -an, all lines will end in -an. This appears to be in contrast to the rhyming scheme of a Tagalog poem, where at the end of a line a vowel rhyme may include any consonant in combination with this vowel. The ambahan is stricter in this respect, though it is interesting to note that here and there consonants, if belonging to the same pho netic class, may be included as the rhyming consonant in combination with the rhyming vowel. Hence, the word inwag rhymes with ma-ayad because both g and d belong to the phonetic class of voiced stops. The word humbak rhymes with dagat because both k and t belong to the phonetic class of voiceless stops. The word sundong, lumon and tayutom are the end-syllables of one ambahan because ng, n, and m belong to the phonetic class of voiced sonorants. Of course, it is not because the Hanunuo-Mangyan knows anything about phonetics that these instances occur, but it is a fact that the interchanges of these consonants are not considered violations of the unwritten rules of the ambahan, provided that the vowel remains the same. The ambahan is a chanted verse, but it is changed plainly or almost recited. The rendering of the ambahan with musical pitch might differ from person to person. Some might intone the words like in common conversation; others might use it a monotone recitation; or still others might sing it with a distinct melody. But generally, it can be said that when an ambahan is â€Å"sung,† there is only a slight musical pitch discernable, except maybe towards the end, when the last syllables are drawn out a bit to indicate that the chant is about to end. Furthermore, it is well worth noting that the ambahan, is â€Å"sung† without the accompaniment of musical instruments, as differentiated from another kind of Mangyan verse, the urukay, which is preferably chanted to the accompaniment of the homemade guitar. One who has a knowledge of the language of the Hanunuo-Mangyans as it is used in their daily conversation, will be able to understand very little of the language that is used in the ambahan. The language used in the ambahan differs from the spoken language, though many a word used widely in the daily Hanunuo-Mangyan language is also used in the ambahan-vocabulary. It is quite possible to compile a long list of words (eventually a complete dictionary) that are used only in the ambahan verse, but, for the purpose of this book, only a few words need to be mentioned. Conversational language| Ambahan language| English| amang| bansay| father| inang| suyong| mother| danom| kagnan| water| balay| labag| house| niyog| bu-anay| coconut| bagaw| duyan| talk| mata| pamidkan| eye| That the words of the ambahan vocabulary are found not only in the ambahan of the Hanunuo-Mangyans but also in the literary products of the neighboring Mangyan tribes, seems to be a significant coincidence worth investigating, especially if it is remembered that these other tribes use a conversational language different from the Hanunuo-Mangyan language. Some questions that would confront the investigator are the following: Where do these ambahan words come from? Are there other dialects in the Philippines from which they may have been derived? Or do we have to turn our attention to other countries like Indonesia or India to get an explanation? Here is a potential field of research that should give a linguist enough material to work on. In some of the ambahans here presented, it will be noticed that the theme is about a bird, a flower, a tree, or an insect. Other ambahans, though not nature poems in the strict sense of the term, deal with the sun, the moon, the stars, the rain and th e wind. When a Mangyan poet writes of a flower, he writes of itnot for the purpose of celebrating its beauty or fragrance but to make it an allegory or a symbol of human life, it’s problems, and its challenges. Sometimes the symbolism of a bird or flower may be clear enough, as when a boy talks to his girl about â€Å"a beautiful flower that he would like to bring home.† Very often, however, one symbol may refer to different conditions or circumstances and, thus, becomes a multiple symbol. An examination of ambahan no. 114 will help clarify this point. What does the poem mean? First, it means simply what it says: â€Å"Be careful, or you will be stung by a bee. Take precautions in getting honey.† This would be the literal interpretation of the poem. The added meaning of allegorical interpretation would depend, of course, on the occasion and circumstances, such as climbing a mountain, going to sea, going to town, engaging in a contest with another person, or going to the parents to ask for the hand of their daughter. The complex set of meanings thus woven into an ambahan are gradually unravelled only after the poem had been analyzed with much care and patience. A related study which is worth mentioning at this point would be an investigation into the psychological motivation for the Mangyan’s frequent use of plants, animals, and nature symbols and their predilection for allegorical poetry. [Postma, Antoon SVD. Treasure of a Minority. Manila: Arnoldus Press, Inc., 1981.] The origin of the ambahan A Hanunuo-Mangyan woman chanting an ambahan at a community ambahan session [Source: Antoon Postma] If you ask a Hanunuo-Mangyan, â€Å"Where did you get this ambahan?,† he will most likely answer, â€Å"I copied it from somebody else.† That is quite probable, for the ambahan has been popularized by being copied on any piece of bamboo, such as the container for tobacco or apog (lime), the scabbard or sheath of a bolo, a violin or guitar, and even on the bamboo beams of a house. When a Mangyan discovers a nice ambahan, he uses his knife to engrave it on bamboo, in the age-old Indic-derived script. Thus, he has â€Å"copied† it. In answer to the same question, another Mangyan may reply, â€Å"We obtained this from our forefathers.† Most of the ambahans they possess now have been handed down from parents to children through continuos copying. Yet there is no doubt that new ambahans are still being written today by the poets or composers, although it is hard to find out who these poets are. A Mangyan would never admit that he is composing ambahans. To determine the approximate time in which an ambahan was written, two criteria may be suggested: the subject and the kind of words used. The first criterion cannot be applied without reservation, for the subject of the ambahan is sometimes very general and true of any period. But if we find reference in the ambahan to Moro attacks or to Mangyans still living along the sea-shore, we are on surer ground, for the attacks of the Moros are known to have occurred at a certain time, and the Mangyans lived along the shores before the non-Mangyans settled on the island. On the other hand, when an ambahan poet writes of going to America, the poem is certain to have been written in modern times. The second criterion, the kind of words used, is more reliable and, if used by experts, would be a more certain indication of the age of the ambahan. By using this criterion, ambahans may be categorized into three classes. The first type is the ambahan that only uses the poetic language with a minimum of contemporary words. Sometimes common Hanunuo-Mangyan words are used, but this type of ambahan restricts itself mainly to the use of literary words, i.e. words not used in daily conversation. According to the Mangyans themselves, this is the oldest kind of ambahan. The next type of ambahan is that in which words borrowed from neighboring tribes, especially the Buhid tribe, are used. Frequent contact with this tribe has made the Hanunuo-Mangyans accept these borrowed words and expressions which found their way into their ambahans. Lastly, there is the ambahan of later times, in wh ich loan-words from Spanish, Tagalog or Bisaya are evident. The painstaking study by linguists of the words used in the ambahan may supply the final answer to the question of the time in which an ambahan was written. [Postma, Antoon. Mangyan Treasures. Manila: Arnoldus Press, Inc., 1995.] The ambahan and its uses Hanunuo-Mangyan poems in the Mangyan syllabic script inscribed on betel nut containers made of bamboo The ambahans are very common among the Hanunuo-Mangyans. About thirty percent of the Hanunuo-Mangyans do not read or write the pre-Spanish Hanunuo-Mangyan script, but it would be rare indeed for a Mangyan not to know the art of the ambahan. Of course, a Mangyan will quickly deny any knowledge of the ambahan, but this is only a polite way of refusing to demostrate such knowledge. People who have tried to collect ambahans will be the first to admit the difficulty of making the Mangyans recite the ambahans outside of the proper occasion for doing it. Aside from the Hanunuo-Mangyans, the neighboring Mangyan tribes also know about the ambahan. Though the actual extent to which the ambahan is known by these other tribes has not been fully investigated, it is certain that this type of poetry is also common among the Buhid-Mangyans. The language of the Buhid is completely different from that of the Hanunuo-Mangyans, but one may still partly understand the literary products of the other. The ambahan can also be found among the tribes living deep in the mountains of Mindoro. These natives go down to the lowlands very rarely, and on one of these occassions I was lucky enough to acquire some copies of their ambahans. The Hanunuo-Mangyans do not understand much of it, except when exclusive ambahan words are used. However, before anything more authoritative can be said on this matter, one must explore the field further. The verse of the Iraya-Mangyans (in the north of Mindoro) is also very similar to the ambahan-type, i.e. they also have the characteristic heptasyllabic meter and rhyming end-syllables. Ambahans are known and recited by Hanunuo-Mangyans, both old and young. Of course, different ambahans will be appropriate for different age groups. The children definitely have their own kind of ambahans, something which might be considered as the equivalent of our nursery rhymes. However, even in these rhymes all the el ements of the ambahan are present; the main distinction lies in the simplicity of the language used. The ambahans for children, however, are short, most of them containing not more than six lines. A boy (kan-akan) and a girl (daraga) would be familiar with the ambahans fit for them, but once they are married, they would acquaint themselves with the ones that are appropriate for their new state of life. Like all poetry, the ambahan is an expression of an idea or feeling in a beautiful and harmonious language. Unlike other forms of poetry , however, the ambahan is not poetry for its own sake or for the poet’s satisfaction. The ambahan is primarily a poem of social character; it finds its true existence in society. It is created by the Mangyans to serve practical purposes within the community. It is used by the parents in educating their children, by young people in courting each other, by a visitor in asking for food and by a relative bidding goodbye or farewell. Of course, it would be a mistake to think that the Mangyans converse with each other only by the ambahan. If a man comes from his field, he would not use an ambahan to tell his wife that he is hungry; he will express the feeling of his stomach in plain and clear language. But generally speaking, the ambahan is used on those occasions when something embarrassing, unpleasant, delicate or even precious (as love) has to be said. For instance, a boy may tell a girl in plain language that he will never forget her, but it would sound so much nicer if he were to do so in an ambahan. The social nature of the ambahan has given rise to a kind of verbal contest. Whenever Mangyans are together, a few of them (often the older generation) will eagerly compete with each other in the ability to recite the ambahan called for by the place and the occasion. Among these occasions are festivities held in connection with reburial. One Mangyan might challenge another with an ambahan, for example. This starts the contest. The people gather around the two contestants (without agreement, without rules, without bets), listening intently to the ambahans recited alternately by the two opponents. Each ambahan recited is an answer to the problem or theme propounded in the ambahan preceeding it. Both contestants are lustily cheered and encouraged by their supporters. In most cases, the one who recites last is declared the winner. The contest may go deep into the night. Whether one or the other wins is unimportant; what matters most is the entertainment derived from the contest. A few final remarks about the translation of the ambahan may still be of interest. A researcher who happens to be in the mountains of Mansalay and becomes acquainted with the ambahan will become enthusiastic about it and may even want to translate some of them into his own language. But before he can translate the ambahan, he must study the ancient Indic script. After having mastered it well, he will find out to his dismay, that he still cannot read everything written on the bamboo. This is due to the fact that the script itself does not show the final consonant of each syllable. When he has overcome the disappointment, he will probably try to get an ambahan written down in clear, readable letters. Tape-recording the ambahan would take away the initial difficulties of copying from script. However, even then he will not understand all the implications of the ambahan unless the Mangyan can explain it. In translating an ambahan, we find a special difficulty arising from the symbolic meaning of the words used. The Mangyan may supply the applied allegorical meaning but he might not understand the literal meanings of certain words. The meanings of these words can often be discovered because of the frequent use of repetition of ideas. Sometimes complete lines may be repetitions of the same idea in synonymous words. Before the ambahan can be completely understood, it is imperative to collect as many samples of the ambahan as possible. This is the main work being done at present in this field. A detailed comparison of specimens, sifting and classifying words, and careful experiments in translating the words into another context have to be done by experts in this field of research. Only then will the ambahan emerge in the fullness of its beauty and signification. The present anthology of ambahans is selected from a collection that started in 1958. In preparing this selection, it was not an easy task to decide on the best way of grouping or arranging these ambahans. It was finally decided to observe a dual system in classifying these Mangyan poems. The first system is to take the obvious and literal meaning as expressed by the poem. The second is the allegorical or applied meaning that can be gleaned from the ambahan. With this dual system in mind, the ambahans in this collection have been arranged according tot he life-cycle of the Hanunuo-Mangyans. Hence, this collection of ambahans starts with the cradle and ends with the grave. It is believed that this arrangement is the most satisfactory. [Postma, Antoon SVD. Treasure of a Minority. Manila: Arnoldus Press, Inc., 1981.] Ambahan: Birth and infancy Since the aim of this collection of ambahans is to present a cross-section of the Mangyan poetic verse with respect to the life-cycle of the Mangyans, the first ambahans, to be chronological, should pertain to the first chapters of human life. The following series of common cradle songs in ambahan style might be a fine illustration of how the songs can be different in rhyme and metaphor whereas the underlying theme is the same. Ambahan 3| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | My dear baby, do not cry ’cause the wild cat might hear us! The big one from over there, with his awful long-stretched howl! Helpless are we if he comes. Our spear is broken still and our bolo bent and blunt!| Huwag ka ngang umiyak Hala ka at mapukaw Pusang-ligaw sa gubat Ngumiyaw, maghihiyaw Wala kitang pambugaw Sibat nati’y nawasak Gulok nati’y nabingaw!| Ambahan 4| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Don’t be noisy, baby dear! The wild iro might come here. The one out of the deep woods. How to fight him when he comes? Broken is our spear in two and our bolo disappeared!| H’wag ka ngang magulo May laog nanunubok Mula gubat susugod Wala kitang panghamok Sibat nati’y napulpol Itak ay anong purol!| Ambahan 5| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | You, my baby, don’t make noise! Some strange animal might come, coming from across the streams. Knocking on the house, he will, with his glittering sharp claws, No weapons for us to kill; our bolo we cannot use, rusty is our spear and blunt.| Anak, ‘wag kang ngumalngal Hala ka, may bakulaw! Sa dahilig do’n buhat Tutuktok sa suliras Kay tulis ng galamay Wala kitang pamatay Tong itak walang saysay Kinalawang ‘yang sibat!| Ambahan: Childhood Sweet are the memories of our childhood. For the Mangyan child, it is a time of unconcern and carefreeness, even if the child has to take his share of the family duties to the measure of his capacities. It is with feelings of sentimentality and homesickness that a young man recalls the happy years of his youth that passed away too fast. It is also with pride that he remembers the love and kindness shown to him by his parents. Ambahan 6 (4)| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | That time, when I was still young, (I was just a baby still) when I sat on mother’s lap, when she rocked me in a crib, in a cradle newly made. Mommy lulling me asleep, did not leave me in a crib, in her arms she cradled me. Oh, how sweet these memories! wish I could climb once again in the cradle lovely made! So I could be showing off how I grew so beautifully! You, the people from the shore, people from the mountains too, could you just come here this way! Visit me just once again, the unfolding, blooming tree! I’ll recall this all my life.| Noong ako’y muraan Sanggol na sanggol pa lang Karga pa sa kandungan Inuugoy sa duyan Sa kagagawang duyan Hinehele ni Nanay Hindi n’ya iniiwan Sapo n’ya sa kandungan O kay gandang nagdaan! Muli sanang mahimlay Sa banayad na duyan Nang tunay kong mamasdan Paglaki kong kariktan Kayong taga-baybayan Maging taga-burulan Kung maaring puntahan Pasyalan at pagmasdan Punong namumukadkad Alaala kailanman!| But there is also the obedient child who has his important task in the whole of the family work: watching that the products in the field will not be destroyed by the wild animals. Ambahan 13| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | The reason why I am here, walking along hills and vales, because Mother has told me and my Father he just said: â€Å"Better go and have a look, at the field we have prepared. Monkeys might be eating there and the pigs destroying plants.† So I went and had a look at the field we have prepared. But no monkeys eating there, and no pigs destroying plants. However, what I did see, was a bird, still rather small, sitting on the field we have, at the borders of the field. Maybe one day it’ll be there, when the rice is ripe and fair.| Sanhi po ng paglakad sa kabundukan Ang bilin po ni Inang Kay Ama’y kawikaan: â€Å"Pumar’on iho’t tingnan Kaingin nating hawan Baka matsi’y lamunan Baboy ay mag-arumbang† Akin nang pinuntahan Kaingin nating hawan Matsin ay wala naman Ni baboy na ligaw man Anu’t aking namasdan Merong ibong ‘liitan Sa kainging hinawan Sa gilid na taniman Baka bukas nandiyan Pagdatal ng anihan!| Children, however, are the same everywhere. Romping around with their playmates, they produce a deafening noise, often to the despair of their parents. Ambahan 15| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Sure, the kids they are not bad, but, say, who would not get mad! When from morning until night all this noise, right at your side, and those fights on top of that!| Kahit bata’y mabait Sinong di maiinis Buong araw at gabi Iritan d’ya’t kagalit Awayan d’yan sa inggit!| Ambahan: Adolescence The transition from the dependent child into the self-sufficient young man or woman is not marked by initiation ceremonies or induction rites. In some things, children are given independence at an early age. In other things, they continue to act dependently. Ambahan 27| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Mother carried me around. Father always at my side. I, the baby, was still small: just a little child I was. Going to the field to work, Father led me by the hand. Even speaking simple words as a babe I did not know. But now everything has changed. The small baby has grown up. Now the baby understands all the words that Father speaks, Everything that mother says. Even when I’m walking far, when I travel far away and it becomes dangerous I’ll return immediately.| Kinakalong ni Nanay Kinakandong ni Tatay Sadya pang kamusmusan Tunay akong paslit lang Hangang sa kaingin man ‘Sinasama ni Tatay Kahit pa utal-utal Sanggol na walang muwang Ngunit nang magka-minsan Lumaki’t magkagulang Akin namang nalaman Kay Tatay, kawikaan Kay Nanay, kasabihan Malayo mang lakaran Saan man ang abutan Kung kasam-an ang datnan Sila lang ang uwian!| Then the day comes when adolescence ends. The parents know now that there is not much hope that the young people will do things the way the parents want them to do. The young man goes his way, and nobody can direct him anymore. Ambahan 30| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says the lobster in the creek: Even if you place a dam, I will jump it high and neat!| Sabi ng hipong sapa: Kahit mo man bakuran May lusot, paraan pa!| The character of the youngster is fixed now. Even if there are traits the parents do not like, these traits can no longer be changed. Wherever he is, the young adult will behave in his accustomed manner and will not change his attitudes because of others. Ambahan 31| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Pigeon, with a shortened tail, even there across the hills, you won’t be a nightingale!| Hoy, ibong Balud-balod Libanin mo ma’y bundok Pungos pa rin ‘yang buntot!| Ambahan: Courtship Many pages of sweet-flowing romances have been written about courtship, but the Mangyans create their own by using the examples of the budding and flowering plants and trees around them. Ambahan 38| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | The bamboo in Marigit That I saw at first approach Was just sprouting and still small. When I saw it yesterday, It was standing firm and thick Ready now to build a floor.| Kawayan sa Marigit Pag tanaw ko, palapit Labong pa siyang kay liit Nang daanan ko pabalik Siksikan mga tinik Mainam nang pang-sahig!| Ambahan 39| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | The palm bordering my field Back when it was very small My attention did not call. But now that it’s fully-grown and has shed its dried-up leaves, I will harvest it so fresh and weave me a basket fair. That I can bring everywhere.| Buli sa may kaingin Noong s’ya pa’y musmusin Hindi ko pinapansin Nang gumulang, pagsapit Tanggi ko ang lumain Sariwa kong kukunin Bayong kong lalalain Lagi kong sasakbitin!| A boy has his way of convincing a girl of his good intentions and intimate love. He is willing to sacrifice anything for his beloved. Ambahan 68| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | My sweetheart, my love so dear, when I left, in coming here, coming from my house and yard; all the rice that I have stored, I have left it there behind, because I hope here to find one more valued than my rice! One to be my partner nice to the water, to the field, a companion on my trips, and one who will share my sleep!| O liyag, aking hirang Kanina nang lumisan Galing sa ‘king dingdingan Palay na inanihan Akin lang iniwanan Hinangad kong katuwang Di basta palay lamang Sa lakad sa ilog man Maging sa kaparangan Kaakbay ko saan man Kaabay sa higaan!| Ambahan: Home To give a sample of all the various aspects of the home life within a Mangyan settlement would be next to impossible. However, an attempt to draw a general outline will be undertaken here. Two great themes can be considered of importance in the life-cycle of a Mangyan: 1) His struggle for life in and around his house, to keep hunger and sickness away; and, 2) His unbelievable ability to relax, be happy and unconcerned, often by escaping from his immediate surroundings. What does a Mangyan home look like? His house is not as important as a house is to his countrymen of modern culture. A Mangyan will be the first to admit that his house is of poor construction and just a temporary dwelling. Ambahan 102| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | This the forest Mangyan said: â€Å"What I have to tell you, sir, I’ve been thinking of for long: Your existence is not bad In the lowlands where you live. There the houses that you have Are built with beams of the best Like your floors all made of wood. But we to the mountains born Who have lived here for so long, Our houses are not like that. Our floor is of bamboo built, Our roof made of cogon grass, All of it is tied with vines. But to that I have to add. Don’t forget that we can live Very near the water source Where the birds all come to drink. A cool, shady place to be.†| Sabi ng isang Mangyan: Ang wika ko’y pakinggan Ito ngang kaisipan— Mabuti ang ‘yong lagay Ikaw, taga-kapatagan Kaya taga-baybayan Tabla ay ilang-ilang Nagsahig nang mainam Kaming taga-burulan Kaya nasa burulan aming kabihasnan Sahig ay patpatan Kugon lang ang bubungan May taling baling-uway Datapwa’t ‘to’y pakinggan H’wag naman kalimutan Ibon sa may igiban Bukal itong inuman Na kay lilim kung tingnan!| After all, life is hard and a Mangyan has to spend most of his time eking out a subsistence for himself, so the house itself is of little importance. Ambahan 103| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Your condition is quite good and your house is beautiful. The walls made of banban leaves, still enforced with bamboo poles. But we, living out-of-doors, we, the mountains dwellers up, if we did not have to search for some food to stay alive, we could also be so wise, we could also find these ways! But the only thing we find, is a sago palm for food!| Dampa mo’y kainaman Bahay n’yo pong gandahan May dingding na banban Patukurang kawayan Kaming nasa bakuran Kaming taga-burulan Di dapat paghanapan Di dapat panghinaan Wala pong karupukan Di dapat manghinayang Dahil masisilayan Yaong buling gandahan!| Even if the construction is nice and strong, the day will come that the house will be torn apart by the ripping blasts of wind. Ambahan 105| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Climbing vine with the long leaves, leaves symmetrical and fine, how very nice looks your stem! But, they say, you’ll be blown down by the tempest from the shore!| Hoy, uway na lambaan Malamba ang dahon man Ang puno’y kainaman— Kung nasa daraanan Bagyo’y galing ‘patagan!| Ambahan: Problems But at home, life is not always as pleasant as the Manygans would like it to be. There are dark days when the future doesn’t look very bright. These dark days have to be overcome. Ambahan 113| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Balkawi, my climbing vine, You’re not happy in that spot Your fine leaves are ripping there And your poor stem creaks and cries. I have to replant you now In a place where you will thrive Free from rain and gusty winds.| Hoy, punong Balkawihan Pangit ang tinubuan Dahon mo’y nangalagas Puno mo’y langitngitan Muling itanim na lang Sa payapang hanginan Sa walang daluyungan!| There are the domestic misunderstandings that might arise; the simple accidents that might happen. Ambahan 115| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Sticks from the balanti tree If you cut them properly From the depth they will resound. But if cut improperly All you get is awful noise.| Kalutang kong Balanti Kung timbang iyang yari Taginting ay mabini Kung tabtab mali-mali Sintunadong matindi!| There is no reason, however, to be as upset about a domestic misunderstanding or a simple accident as about a great disaster. Ambahan 117| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | What is the matter with you that you are so much upset? Like the heavens coming down, as if the whole sky collapsed! Even rain will stop some day, but rain doesn’t own a house! A storm will not last all time, but storm has no place like you! Are you not a human? Man? Doesn’t man always go back to his dwelling place, his home?| Bakit ka nagkaganyan? Ang ulo mo’y kay init Bagsak ang kalangitan Parang bayang guhuan Pagtila nitong ulan Ula’y walang tahanan Hihinto ang ampiyasan Hangi’y walang uwian Di ba’t tao ka naman Di ba’t may babalikan Sa kawayang daluyan!| Ambahan: Sickness Sickness is unavoidable in human life. A person who is ill can easily be recognized. Sometimes, whatever is done, all treatment seems to be in vain. But there is always a treatment that’s been forgotten. Ambahan 131| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | This my problem, my headache, I had called the doctors all, had it treated frequently but my headache didn’t go. Like the storm not calming down, like the rain that doesn’t stop it was even getting worse: my head almost cracking up. But the final medicine, why did I not think of it? We must love each other more. Then the problem will be gone, carried along by the wind, covered by the forest trees, and we will be sad no more.| Itong ulong makirot Dinalit na’t ginamot Niritwal na sa bulong Ayaw pong huminahon Parang bagyong inikot Laging unang lagunot Lalo itong tumibok Sa bunbunan paloob Datapwa’t iyang gamot Ikaw, sa ‘king pagsukot Ay karamay kong irog! Huhupa na ang kirot Sa hangin ipasaklot Sa gubat ipataklob Lalaho na ang lungkot!| A serious condition might develop. The usual treatments are of little help. Ambahan 132| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says Yumay, when feeling ill: Daog, I am calling you. I am coming all the way to visit your house, Daog. I would like to ask from you, if you could apply your wit, have me treated with your charms. The main reason for all this: my problem, my headache was treated seven times in vain, still the sickness doesn’t go! I am worried and I think that this sickness will result finally into my death.| Panawagan ni Yumay Si Daog tawag tawag Pakay niya sa lakad Si Daog sa may dampa Ako nawa’y tulungan Sa bulong mong malakas Sa mabisa mong dasal Kaya nga nagkaganyan Masakit ang uluhan Pito mang patas-unan Kirot pa’y palagian Huwag sana, h’wag naman Sakit waring hantungan Tiyak na kamatayan!| Why don’t the treatments work? Maybe all the requirements of offerings to the spirits were not properly fulfilled. Ambahan 133| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says the spirit of the spring: What has been your offering? Softly cooked rice, there was none, Not a chicken, even one! Only some fruits from a tree! What else could the answer be but rains and a hurricane hitting house and yard again. What are you going to do? Incantation might help you or a seer and his wit! Maybe he can solve your case and prevent further disgrace. Says the one responsible: You, dear spirit of the well, Please, do hide your angriness! It’s my fault, I do confess. I’ll bring the best from my floor that you will complain no more.| Wika ng lamang-lupa Apo Ilog nagbanta: Handog na kani’y wala Ni manok na ‘hinanda Bungang-kahoy lamang ba Ambo’y umampiyas nga Hangin ay hagunot na Sa kabila ng dampa Anong ibibigay pa Bibigkas ng dasal ba? Uusal ng dalit ha Ganyang magmatigas ka Hanggang katapusan pa! Sumagot ang sinama: Kayo, Poon ng sapa H’wag kapootan nawa Alay namin, dulog na Sa sahig nagmumula Sa sumpa po’y iadya!| Ambahan: Food and work Obtaining food keeps the Mangyans busy for most of the year: selecting and preparing the field; sowing the carefully kept seed; weeding and cleaning the plants; harvesting the most precious food, cotton-white mountain rice. Unfortunately, an ideal harvest depends on an exact amount of sun, wind and rain. Often though, an extensive drought, a nasty typhoon or prolonged monsoon rains effect the opposite result, hardship and scarcity of food. It is therefore, no wonder that the Mangyans worry about their crops a great deal. Rice is a food the Mangyans enjoy. After they have harvested their rice, it seems that there will never come an end to their supplies. But, before they realize it, gone is all their hope and happiness. Ambahan 136| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | This kind of rice, Kabasag, When I saw for the first time, The stalks were heavy with grain. When I returned and looked again, Empty and flat were the heads!| Ang palay kong Kabasag Nang minsan kong namatyag Uhay ay sangkatutak Nang balikan ko’t tingnan Uhay ay mangahungkag!| Ambahan 137| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | The little black bird Sawi, So hereabouts its was told, Had a tail long and pretty. But the bird when it grew big, Tail, alas, shorter it grew, Struck by lightning as storm blew.| Ibong si Sawi-sawi Noon pa man ang huni Buntot, mahabang dili Subalit nang lumaki Buntot ko ay umiksi Kinidlat, binuhawi!| Whether one likes it or not, it is necessary to work hard in order to keep his stomach filled. He has to work hard even if he has the help of the spirits. Ambahan 139| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Our good and precious soil: Would it be as beautiful if we did not work and toil? Very soon it would be waste.| Ating lupang payapa Paano pa gaganda Kung di tayo gumawa Dagli ‘yang mawawala!| Ambahan: Traveling As a relief from his struggle for life, the Mangyan sometimes goes traveling. The moment will come when the Mangyan cannot be kept tied any longer to his house and the daily chores. He has to go, whether it is opportune or not. The woman, however, is not as fortunate as the man; she is tied to her home, especially when her children are still small. In spite of that, she would also like to go out once in a while. The parents should be, therefore, understanding and reasonable. Ambahan 164| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | This journey that I must do, Tell me please what’s wrong with it, And please explain how, indeed, Father and mother dearest! But then if there’s nothing wrong, Then why scold me for so long?| Iring aking pagpasyal Kung mali po ang asal Ako ay kagalitan O Tatay ko, O Inay Ngunit kung kawastuhan H’wag sanang magtungayaw?| The following ambahan is a special bit of advice to those with the unpleasant ringworm skin disease. Ambahan 166| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Little bird, Balinayaw, When the sun is fading fast, Better not to walk outside, For your colors will stand out On the leafless Limpayaw!| Ay naku ibong Balaw Kung pusyaw na ang araw Huwag ka ngang galawgaw Kulay mo ay lilitaw Sa panot na Limpayaw!| Just as the speed of those who travel differs, so the character also differs. Ambahan 178| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Take my bird, the bidlawan, whistling loud and flying far, still he will always come back to the house wherein we dwell. But the bird alipasang whistling loud and flying far, he will not come back again to the house wherein we dwell.| Ibong kong si Bidlawan Sakaling ngang liparan Babalik pa rin iyan Sa ‘ming dampang pugaran Ang ibong layang-layang Kung puma-ilanglang Wala na pong balikan Sa pugad na tahanan!| Ambahan: Hospitality and friendship When a traveler arrives at a house he wont be afraid that he may not be welcome. Hospitality is considered the highest of virtues among the Mangyans. Ambahan 181| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | My dear friend, be welcome here! Where, perchance, did you come from? From the seashore ebbing low, from the bubbling water spring? If from the water source up, let us talk a moment here, in a happy, friendly way. Even whoever you are, we like to be at your side.| Katoto kong matalik Saan ka ba nanggaling Sa baybayin bang gilid Nasunson ba ng batis Kung sa bukal ng tubig Halina at magniig Sa kwentuhan mong ibig Di-kilala ma’t batid Makapiling ka’y lirip!| Sitting together on the balcony in the soft moonlight, the Mangyan feel inspired. Friendship is great! Ambahan 198| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Look! The moon so full and bright, shining in front of the house! How can you explain to me, that the rays are soft and cool? If a man like us he were, I would hold him by the hand! Seize the hair to keep him back! Grasp the clothes to make him stay! But how could I manage that! It is the moon in the sky! The full moon shining so bright, going down beyond the hills, disappearing from the plain, out of sight behind the rocks.| Kay liwanag ng buwan Sa balkunahe’y sinag Paano naging ganyak Luningning ay busilak Kung tao s’yang katulad Pipigilan kong tiyak Sa buhok, siya’y hawak Siguro sa damit man Pa’no mapipigilan May buwang nakasinag Bituing kumikislap May bundok kinublihan May hinamugang patag May tuktok na pinugad.| The visitor will be home again, but the memory of his good friends will remain forever. Ambahan 205| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | You, my friends, dearest of all, thinking of you makes me sad. Rivers deep are in between, forests vast keep us apart. But thinking of you with love, as if you are here nearby standing, sitting at my side.| Lugod kong kaibigan Kung kita’y pag-isipan May ilog sa pagitan May gubat sa harapan Ngunit kung pagbulayan Parang nasa tabihan Kapiling sa kandungan.| Ambahan: Marriage Although the courtship period has a varied set of rules and ceremonials, the marriage itself is as simple as possible. After the consent of the parents has been obtained, the unceremonial first sleep of both the spouses together is considered as wedlock itself. In the ambahan literature, a major part revolves around the perennial theme of married life and all its ramifications. After many years of living together, does the husband still remember his promise that he gave as an ardent lover? When difficulties arise, the Mangyans try to smooth them out themselves. Ambahan 210| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | If the ties you use at home Become weak and tend to break, You should be the one to mend, The one to restore their strength.| Panali ma’y marupok Uway iyan na gapok Ikaw itong susubok Magtitibay nang lubos!| The following advice is worthwhile to remember! Ambahan 231| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Even with disharmony and a quarrel now and then. No reason to separate. Try to understand it first!| Kahit may kaguluhan May tampuha’t alitan Di dapat talikuran Unawain mo naman!| Parting for a longer period of time is sad for the couple. Ambahan 234| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | My dear fragrant herb, my wife, it is true, we have to part, on this day and on this hour. If united we remain and our bond is strong and pure, you and I, far as we are, it’s like holding hands again, it’s like sitting side by side.| Kab’yak kong halimuyak Kita ma’y magkawalay Ngayon at lumaon man Kung buklod ay matibay Maayos ang samahan Ikaw nga at ako man Magkahawak ng kamay Wari’y nasa kandungan!| Ambahan: Old age Sharing their love, the happy couple grows old together. Old age in Mangyan society is not given special status and special privileges. As long as anyone is able to keep up, he is expected to take part in daily work. It is, therefore, not surprising to see the old and feeble people working side by side with the younger generations in the rice fields. However, the irrevocable advance of time is felt by the elder generation. It is something that can’t be changed. Ambahan 235| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | It’s a fact we all know, a truth wherever we go: the sun in the afternoon will be setting very soon.| Di ba’t totoo naman Katunayan saan man Araw sa kataasan Ay lulubog rin naman.| Among themselves, the older generation talk about the time when they will no longer be together. Will there still come another day after this night? Ambahan 237| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | At this hour of the dark night we are still together now on the woven sleeping-mat. But when the sun rises soon, and the stars become detached, our bond might break up too. When we’ll ever meet again, it is not with mortal eyes, but the eye-sight of the soul.| Sa sandaling karimlan Kahit kita magtipan Sa banig na higaan Pagsikat nitong araw Talang maghihiwalay; Buklod nati’y bibigay; Pagkikita’y daratal Paningi’y mapawi man May bagong kaanyuan.| The thought of death is quietly accepted by a Mangyan. It is not the frightful and horrible event that is feared so much by the lowland Christians. For a Mangyan, death is part of the life cycle of every human being; it is looked upon as something that will bring a definite change in life, mostly for the better, not for the worst. Especially when the Mangyan gets old, he likes to think of death as the moment that will bring him back again to his beloved who went ahead of him. Ambahan 242| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says the man, already old, thinking of life after death: When I leave, it will be nice. I will whistle, I will yell on the highest mountain peaks. Yes, one day I will be glad; I will see my wife again! Many things we’ll have to say! Then I won’t want to come back.| Wika ng isang Mangyan Isip ang kamatayan Kung yayao’t papanaw Sipol akong hihiyaw Sa landas sa ‘bundukan Kung dumatal ang asam Pagtagpo natin hirang Sa usal ay puspusan Papanaw nang tuluyan| Ambahan: Death When physical life comes to an end, the soul departs for another place. The moment of dying, this singular experience, is vividly remembered afterwards by the soul, especially if death came during an agonizing circumstance. Ambahan 246| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says the soul remembering: Just a while ago at home, in the house I used to stay, My body was really bad, lying sickly on the mat, though not ready yet to go. Scared to death I really was! I was going to the right and to left, back and forth! So confused I was that time! Now, my body laid at rest, finally I took a bath in the waters for the soul. I am starting on my way to the place my father went, and where Mother joined him, too.| Taghoy ng kaluluwa: Kanina nang lumisan Sa dampa kong tahanan Katawan ko’y naghihirap Sa banig na higaan Di pa lumilisan Balisang nagpaalam Pa-biling-biling naman Pakaliwa’t pakanan Sige na nga kung ganyan Ako na ay lilisan Liligo sa hugasan Sa tubig dalisayan Sa bago kong hantungan Sa tabihan ni Amang Kapiling na si Inang!| Tragic, also is the Mangyan who died out of misery and chagrin because of the hardship he had to deal with! We do not know what his problems were or who caused them, but that he had some is clear from his explanation! Ambahan 251| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | These are the words of the soul: Who would finally not complain! My house on the mountain slope in the darkness of the night, hurricanes were howling loud. When the sun was in the sky, the shower came lashing down! All the southern typhoon winds, all the north-western storms, my house they were hitting hard! That was exactly the case. No wonder I left the place!| Hinagpis ng kalul’wa: Sinong di masasaktan Bahay ko sa tarikan Kung gabi at karimlan Ang hangin ay bugsuan Kung araw ay sikatan Ambon ay ampiyasan Saklot ng habagat man Pispis nga ng amihan Tutok doo’t bugsuan Kang ganyan rin nga lamang Sa dampa na’y lilisan| All this information comes from the realm of the dead, furnished by the deceased themselves! Communicating with the souls or spirits of the dead is nothing extraordinary for the Mangyans. These are those persons who possess the power to strike up a conversation with the spirits by means of a medium or daniw. The conversation resembles a sà ©ance among spiritualists. The Mangyan who grieves about the death of a dear one likes to avail himself of the services of a daniw in order to see if the soul of the deceased cannot be convinced to come back and join his earthly body again. Positive results are said to be known, but they are not recorded in the ambahan verse. The ambahan samples available only relate the failure of the daniw and the decisiveness of the soul to continue his course in the other life. Ambahan 252| Hanunuo-Mangyan| English| Filipino| | Says the seer’s medium: You, soul, can you tell me please, why is it you were so scared, that time when you left the house? Wasn’t a spirit from the woods? If so, I took care of that through my prayers very strong and the incantations too! Your fears should have disappeared, since the Evil one is gone. All the more, it’s long ago that I caged him through my strength.| Ang wika nitong Daniw: Kalul’wa, hoy sabihin Takot ka ba at bakit? Sa tahana’y umalis Kung malignong gubatin Ligtas nating talunin Sa lakas ng dalangin Sa tindi ng humigmig Tuloy kang manahimik Maligno’y gagapusin Ngayon at noon mandin Sa dunong bibihagin!| Mangyan groups Ethnographic map of Mindoro There are around 300 million indigenous peoples in the world. In the Philippines, of the projected population of 94 million in 2010, about 15% belong to indigenous groups. [AusAID] Mindoro is the seventh largest island in the Philippines, with an area of 10,224 square kilometers and two provinces – Oriental and Occidental. Of the total population of one million, the indigenous population is estimated at 100,000. Mangyan is the collective name for the eight indigenous groups living in Mindoro, each with its own name, language, and set of customs: * Iraya * Alangan * Tadyawan * Tau-buid * Bangon * Buhid * Hanunuo * Ratagnon Iraya An Iraya-Mangyan family [Source: Mangyan Mission] The Iraya Mangyans live in the municipalities of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro and Baco in Oriental Mindoro but most are in Occidental Mindoro, particularly in the municipalities of Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao and Santa Cruz. Estel (1952) described the Iraya as having curly or deep wavy hair and dark skin but not as dark as that of the Negrito. During ancient times, the Iraya traditional attire was made of dry tree bark, pounded to make it flat and soft. The women usually wore a blouse and a skirt and the men wore g-strings made of cloth. Today, however, the Iraya are dressed just like the lowland people. Ready-to-wear clothes are easier to find than their traditional costume [Uyan, 2002]. The Irayas are also skilled in nito-weaving. Handicrafts such as jars, trays, plates and cups of different sizes and design are being marketed to the lowlanders. They subsist on rice, banana, sweet potato, and other root crops. Alangan An Alangan-Mangyan woman in traditional attire The Alangan Mangyans live in the municipalities of Naujan, Baco, San Teodoro, and Victoria in Oriental Mindoro, and in the municipality of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro. The name Alangan was derived from the name of a river and mountain slopes in the upper Alangan Valley [Leykamm, 1979]. The women traditionally wear a skirt called lingeb. This is made of long strips of woven nito (forest vines), and is wound around the abdomen. This is worn together with the g-string called abayen. The upper covering is called ulango, made from the leaf of the wild buri palm. Sometimes a red kerchief called limbutong is worn over the ulango. The men wear g-strings with fringes in front. The Alangan Mangyans practise swidden farming, which consists of eleven stages. Two of them are the firebreak-making (agait) and the fallowing (agpagamas). A firebreak is made so the fire will not go beyond the swidden site where the vegetation is thoroughly dry and ready for burning. Two years after clearing, cultivation of the swidden is normally ceased and the site is allowed to revert back to forest [Quiaoit, 1997]. Betel nut chewing is also noted among the Alangans, like all other Mangyan tribes. This they chew with great fervor from morning to night, saying that they don’t feel hunger as long as they chew betel nut [Leykamm, 1979]. Nonetheless, betel chewing has a social dimension. Exchange of betel chew ingredients signifies social acceptance. Tadyawan Tadyawan Mangyans in Oriental Mindoro [Source: Mangyan Mission] The Tadyawan Mangyans live in the municipalities of Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Gloria, Pinamalayan, and Bansud. In the past, the women wore for their upper covering a red cloth called paypay, which is wound around the breast. For their lower covering, they wrapped around the waist a white cloth called talapi. The men wore g-strings called abay. For their accessories, women wore colorful bracelets and necklaces made of beads. Today the women are rarely seen wearing their traditional attire, though some men still wear the abay. Like all other Mangyan tribes, the Tadyawan depend on their â€Å"kaingin† farm for subsistence. Their staple foods are upland rice, banana, sweet potato, and taro. Some have also planted fruit-bearing trees like rambutan, citrus, and coffee in their kaingin. Tau-buid A Tau-buid Mangyan in Occidental Mindoro [Source: Overseas Missionary Fellowship] The Tau-buids are known as pipe smokers and even children begin smoking at a young age. Standard dress for men and women is the loin cloth. In some areas close to the lowlands, women wrap a knee-length cloth around their bark bra-string and men wear cloth instead of bark. Bark cloth is worn by both men and women in the interior and is also used for head bands, women’s breast covers, and blankets. Cloth is made by extracting, pounding and drying the inner bark of several trees [Pennoyer, 1979]. The Tau-buid Mangyans live in the municipalities of Socorro, Pinamalayan and Gloria, but mostly in Occidental Mindoro. Bangon A Bangon-Mangyan elder [Source: Mangyan Mission] The Bangon Mangyans live along the Bongabon river called Binagaw and the surrounding mountains in the municipalities of Bongabong, Bansud, and Gloria in Oriental Mindoro. The Bangon Mangyans have their own culture, language and writing system, different to the other tribes in Oriental Mindoro, and asserted they be considered the seventh major tribe – not a sub-tribe of the Tau-buid. In a March 28, 1996 meeting with Buhid Mangyans in Ogom Liguma, they decided to accept the word Bangon for their tribe. Buhid A Buhid-Mangyan woman [Source: Mangyan Mission] The Buhids are known as pot makers. Other Mangyan tribes, like the Alangan and Hanunuo, used to buy their cooking pots from the Buhids. The word Buhid literally means â€Å"mountain dwellers† [Postma, 1967]. Buhid women wear woven black and white brassiers called linagmon and a black and white skirt called abol. Unmarried women wear body ornaments such as a braided nito belt (lufas), blue thread earrings, beaded headband (sangbaw), beaded bracelet (uksong), and beaded long necklace (siwayang or ugot). The men wear g-strings. To enhance body beauty, the men wear ornaments like a long beaded necklace, tight choker (ugot) and beaded bracelet (uksong). Both sexes use an accessory bag called bay-ong for personal things like comb and knife [Litis, 1989]. Together with the Hanunuo, the Buhids in some areas possess a pre-Spanish syllabic writing system. The Buhid Mangyans live in the municipalities of Roxas, Bansud, Bongabong and some parts of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro, and in the municipalities of San Jose and Rizal in Occidental Mindoro. Hanunuo A Hanunuo-Mangyan family [Source: Mangyan Mission] To the Hanunuo, clothing (rutay) is one of the most important criteria in distinguishing the Mangyan from the non-Manyan (damuong). A Hanunuo-Mangyan male wears a loin cloth (ba-ag) and a shirt (balukas). A female wears an indigo-dyed short skirt (ramit) and a blouse (lambung). Many of the traditional style shirts and blouses are embroidered on the back with a design called pakudos, based on the cross shape. This design is also found on their bags made of buri (palm leaf) and nito (black fern), called bay-ong. Both sexes used to wear a twilled rattan belt with pocket (hagkos) at their waist. Long hair is the traditional style for a man. It is tied in one spot at the back of the head with a cloth hair-band called panyo. Women also have long hair often dressed with a headbands of beads. The Hanunuo Mangyans of all ages and both sexes are very fond of wearing necklaces and bracelets of beads [Miyamoto, 1985]. In the past they cultivated cotton trees and from these obtained raw materials which they wove in a crude hand loom called harablon. The process of weaving was called habilan, which starts with the gathering of cotton balls and pilling them to dry in a flat basket (bilao). Afterwards, the seeds are removed and the cotton placed on a mat and beaten by two flat sticks to make it fine. Next the cotton is placed inside a container made out of banana stalks (binuyo) and woven. Noted anthropologist Harold Conklin made an extensive study on the Hanunuo-Mangyan agricultural system in 1953. The Hanunuo Mangyans practise swidden farming. This type of farming is different from the â€Å"kaingin† system practised by non-Mangyans which is often very destructive when it is done with no proper safeguards to prevent the fire from spreading to the surrounding vegetation. A fallow period is also observed so that the swidden farm will revert back to forest. According to Conklin, the Mangyans managed their swidden farms skillfully. In 1995, almost half a century after Con klin’s research, a study on the Hanunuo Mangyans’ swidden farming system was conducted by Hayama Atsuko. She concluded that the Hanunuo Mangyans’ farming practices have prevented land deterioration in spite of the fact that forest land degradation is now evident in their territory due to various factors. Together with their northern neighbor the Buhids, the Hanunuo possess a pre-Spanish writing system, considered to be of Indic origin, with characters expressing the open syllables of the language [Postma, 1981]. This syllabic writing system, called Surat Mangyan, is being taught in several Mangyan schools in Mansalay and Bulalacao. The Hanunuo Mangyans live in the municipalities of Mansalay, Bulalacao, and some parts of Bongabong in Oriental Mindoro, and in the municipality of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. Ratagnon The Ratagnon live in the southernmost part of the municipality of Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro. Their language is similar to the Visayan Cuyunon language, spoken by the inhabitants of Cuyo Island in Northern Palawan. The Ratagnon women wear a wrap-around cotton cloth from the waistline to the knees and some of the males still wear the traditional g-string. The women’s breast covering is made of woven nito (vine). They also wear accessories made of beads and copper wire. The males wear a jacket with simple embroidery during gala festivities and carry flint, tinder, and other paraphernalia for making fire. Both sexes wear coils of red-dyed rattan at the waistline. Like other Mangyan tribes, they also carry betel chew and its ingredients in bamboo containers.