Gallipoli - the movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gallipoli - the movie - Essay Example However, this battle just marked a beginning of a stream of others at different battlefields such as within Belgium and France. The historical World War 1 broke in the year 1914 with two, main opposing alliances of nations. By the fact that Austria was a member to the British Empire, most Australians supported the battle of land. Many Australian men volunteered to fight the war in support of the Britain and were ferried overseas for training the British side opted to support Russia in order to defeat Turkey through which they would be in a position to weaken Germany (Commonwealth of Australia, 2005 p. 1-2). Through this, the trainees interacted with other cultures and thus learnt to appreciate diversity. During the World War 1, April 25 of 1915 marked a memorable occurrence when the troops of Australia were deployed to the peninsula of Gallipoli in order to secure it strategically for the ease of taking victory from their counters who also eyed the battle field. The site was importan t for the battle as it commanded good way for supplies through the sea and also as attacking points with the security of rocky cliffs and long range of viewership. The battle at Gallipoli is interpreted to have given the people of Australia a chance to come out for the world to note on her morals and honor, and to display her sovereignty as an independent state. It is sure that the battle at Gallipoli stuck to the history of this country, not only to the relatives that lost their loved ones but also to the country as a whole; for through the war and the campaign, the young Australian men were presented with a rare opportunity to showcase their patriotism, a chance that would have never been provided. As depicted from the movie, the young men got a chance to travel wide and far and interact with various cultures different from their indigenous one. The movie, which was done for a reminder of the historic war serves to remind the people of the strong will, the bond of fraternity as we ll as the thrilling strength with which the men fought for defense of their national heritage; their land. The young men fought relentlessly even when nothing else faced them but death, they would not turn back. Together with thousands of other strong willed soldiers, thousands of young men surrendered their lives for the sake of patriotism. Though with bitter memories of pain and loss, the name Gallipoli as adopted and used by the Australians means pride, honor as well as glory of the many young men who surrendered their lives for the sake of future generations in Australia. As historians reveal, the sheer horror that faced the Australian at Gallipoli, their spirit in determination would not stop them from their mission; standing for their nation (Anon, nd, p.2). Therefore, these along others formed the basis through which the social benefits emanating from the war are persistently seen many years after the horror. Australia underwent through major reforms within the period of 1980 to 1990. The major thematic provisions of the movie as set in the 1980s are the development of a country which innocence is evident through the setting of early 1900 before and during the World War 1. The coming of age of the country is seen through the depicted imagery of the gradual loss of innocence of the Australian soldiers who

Benjamin Franklin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Benjamin Franklin - Essay Example Benjamin Franklin reflected that culture through his life and this reflection of cultural and national pride of the Americans is evident in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. It is clear that the cultural pride of the nation and its citizens has been so natural in the system that it is found the hardest element in life to live away from. Franklin explains this notion in the work when at the end of discussion on a long list of the desirable qualities of life that can be achieved through practice. Thus, when the Americans are hurt on their cultural pride, the natural outcome of every such attempt has been revolt which has been expressed through the historical events such as those touching the national consciousness and provincial thinking. â€Å"In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out a nd show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.† (Franklin). This has been the rule of life and that of culture that the integrity of every person, nation and culture is respected or the result will, naturally, be revolt. To find the origin of American provincialism, one may reach up to the days when the American people lived isolated from the disturbances of European life and this has been the center of their cultural pride and heritage. â€Å"Americans have long been proud of their pioneer roots, and have celebrated common sense over the pomp of aristocracy. This is just one of the more visible results of our founding provincialism. In fact, from the beginning, observers noted the salubrious consequences of Americas distance from Europe†¦ The ethic of rugged individualism is not

Insurance Industry in Australia and Acts of Parliament Essay

Insurance Industry in Australia and Acts of Parliament - Essay Example In essence, the insurance industry in Australia offers insurance services to Australians in three major categories, which are: health insurance, life insurance and general insurance. Moreover, the insurance industry in Australia falls under the financial services sector. The above three categories of insurance are regulated by different acts of Parliament. In accordance with Australian pieces of legislation, the major Acts of Parliament that regulate the insurance industry are: (i) The Life Insurance Act (1995), (ii) The Insurance Act 1973 and (iii) The Corporate Act. The government bodies that enforce the above Acts are: â€Å"The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)†, â€Å"The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)†, â€Å"The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT)† and â€Å"The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)†. This paper provides a report on how the insurance industry in Australia is regulated by the relevant Acts of Parliament. A law in Australia entails an Act passed by the Federal Parliament as stipulated in the Australian Constitution, Acts passed by Legislative Assemblies and State Parliament, Ordinances created in relation to territories, Australian common law and statute laws (Australian Governement Comlaw 2009: 1). General insurance in Australia The main legislation that regulates general insurance in Australia is â€Å"The Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (Insurance Act)†. General insurance in Australia is divided into: (i) liability insurance, and (ii) property insurance. A further categorization of liability insurance has the classes of: worker’s compensation, motor insurance (better known as Compulsory Third Party (CPT)), public liability insurance, insurance for business and professional indemnity. In addition, a further categorization of property insurance has the classes of: travel insurance, home and contents insurance, and motor vehicles comprehensive insurance (Gray 2010: 1). Life insurance in Australia In the Australian insurance industry, life insurance is basically divided into the categories of: superannuation investment, life insurance and disability income insurance. The major acts that govern superannuation investment in Australia are: (i) The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) ACT 1993, and (ii) Financial Services Reforms Act 2002. The â€Å"Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993† is legislation on all the rules of compliance in the insurance industry. In essence, the Act looks into issues that involve: fund accounts and administration, enquiries and complaints, investments, fund management regulation and operation of the vast superannuation funds and setting up penalties for insurers who do not perform in relation to the rules stipulated in the Act. This Act registers all the superannuation trustees in Australian insurance industry. Additionally, all the trustees who seek registration must be qualified in risk management, financial and technology issues and have skills in management profession. On the other hand, the â€Å"Financial Services Reform Act 2002† is an Act that provides standardization in the insurance industry in relation with the financial industry. Essentially, it determines if a license to operate a fund should be given a particular superannuation fund trustee. The major roles of the â€Å"Financial Services Reform Act 2002† are, firstly, providing license to dealers who are to provide insurance services or products; secondly, determine

Gallipoli - the movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gallipoli - the movie - Essay Example However, this battle just marked a beginning of a stream of others at different battlefields such as within Belgium and France. The historical World War 1 broke in the year 1914 with two, main opposing alliances of nations. By the fact that Austria was a member to the British Empire, most Australians supported the battle of land. Many Australian men volunteered to fight the war in support of the Britain and were ferried overseas for training the British side opted to support Russia in order to defeat Turkey through which they would be in a position to weaken Germany (Commonwealth of Australia, 2005 p. 1-2). Through this, the trainees interacted with other cultures and thus learnt to appreciate diversity. During the World War 1, April 25 of 1915 marked a memorable occurrence when the troops of Australia were deployed to the peninsula of Gallipoli in order to secure it strategically for the ease of taking victory from their counters who also eyed the battle field. The site was importan t for the battle as it commanded good way for supplies through the sea and also as attacking points with the security of rocky cliffs and long range of viewership. The battle at Gallipoli is interpreted to have given the people of Australia a chance to come out for the world to note on her morals and honor, and to display her sovereignty as an independent state. It is sure that the battle at Gallipoli stuck to the history of this country, not only to the relatives that lost their loved ones but also to the country as a whole; for through the war and the campaign, the young Australian men were presented with a rare opportunity to showcase their patriotism, a chance that would have never been provided. As depicted from the movie, the young men got a chance to travel wide and far and interact with various cultures different from their indigenous one. The movie, which was done for a reminder of the historic war serves to remind the people of the strong will, the bond of fraternity as we ll as the thrilling strength with which the men fought for defense of their national heritage; their land. The young men fought relentlessly even when nothing else faced them but death, they would not turn back. Together with thousands of other strong willed soldiers, thousands of young men surrendered their lives for the sake of patriotism. Though with bitter memories of pain and loss, the name Gallipoli as adopted and used by the Australians means pride, honor as well as glory of the many young men who surrendered their lives for the sake of future generations in Australia. As historians reveal, the sheer horror that faced the Australian at Gallipoli, their spirit in determination would not stop them from their mission; standing for their nation (Anon, nd, p.2). Therefore, these along others formed the basis through which the social benefits emanating from the war are persistently seen many years after the horror. Australia underwent through major reforms within the period of 1980 to 1990. The major thematic provisions of the movie as set in the 1980s are the development of a country which innocence is evident through the setting of early 1900 before and during the World War 1. The coming of age of the country is seen through the depicted imagery of the gradual loss of innocence of the Australian soldiers who

Insurance Industry in Australia and Acts of Parliament Essay

Insurance Industry in Australia and Acts of Parliament - Essay Example In essence, the insurance industry in Australia offers insurance services to Australians in three major categories, which are: health insurance, life insurance and general insurance. Moreover, the insurance industry in Australia falls under the financial services sector. The above three categories of insurance are regulated by different acts of Parliament. In accordance with Australian pieces of legislation, the major Acts of Parliament that regulate the insurance industry are: (i) The Life Insurance Act (1995), (ii) The Insurance Act 1973 and (iii) The Corporate Act. The government bodies that enforce the above Acts are: â€Å"The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)†, â€Å"The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)†, â€Å"The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT)† and â€Å"The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)†. This paper provides a report on how the insurance industry in Australia is regulated by the relevant Acts of Parliament. A law in Australia entails an Act passed by the Federal Parliament as stipulated in the Australian Constitution, Acts passed by Legislative Assemblies and State Parliament, Ordinances created in relation to territories, Australian common law and statute laws (Australian Governement Comlaw 2009: 1). General insurance in Australia The main legislation that regulates general insurance in Australia is â€Å"The Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (Insurance Act)†. General insurance in Australia is divided into: (i) liability insurance, and (ii) property insurance. A further categorization of liability insurance has the classes of: worker’s compensation, motor insurance (better known as Compulsory Third Party (CPT)), public liability insurance, insurance for business and professional indemnity. In addition, a further categorization of property insurance has the classes of: travel insurance, home and contents insurance, and motor vehicles comprehensive insurance (Gray 2010: 1). Life insurance in Australia In the Australian insurance industry, life insurance is basically divided into the categories of: superannuation investment, life insurance and disability income insurance. The major acts that govern superannuation investment in Australia are: (i) The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) ACT 1993, and (ii) Financial Services Reforms Act 2002. The â€Å"Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993† is legislation on all the rules of compliance in the insurance industry. In essence, the Act looks into issues that involve: fund accounts and administration, enquiries and complaints, investments, fund management regulation and operation of the vast superannuation funds and setting up penalties for insurers who do not perform in relation to the rules stipulated in the Act. This Act registers all the superannuation trustees in Australian insurance industry. Additionally, all the trustees who seek registration must be qualified in risk management, financial and technology issues and have skills in management profession. On the other hand, the â€Å"Financial Services Reform Act 2002† is an Act that provides standardization in the insurance industry in relation with the financial industry. Essentially, it determines if a license to operate a fund should be given a particular superannuation fund trustee. The major roles of the â€Å"Financial Services Reform Act 2002† are, firstly, providing license to dealers who are to provide insurance services or products; secondly, determine

Philippine Culture Essay Example for Free

Philippine Culture Essay The culture of the Philippines is very diverse. This is due to the colorful combination of different nations with our country. Its culture is reflected by the complexity of the history of the Philippines through the blending of Pre-Hispanic indigenous Austronesian civilizations. There are a number of countries that have influenced Philippine culture such as Spain, United States, China, India, and the Arabs. The influences of these countries are visible in the various practices of the Filipinos up to the present. The Spaniards brought the Spanish language, Catholicism and other religious celebrations such as fiestas. The American influence is evident in the use of the English language and the presence of contemporary pop culture such as fast-food, music, movies, basketball and media. The Arabs and Indians brought Islam to the southernmost island of the Philippines along with their own customs and traditions. The Chinese brought trade and commerce to the country as well as their affirmation of the importance of respect and family. Society The locals of the Philippines are called Filipinos. Their primary ancestors are the Malays who came from the southeastern Asian country which is now called Indonesia. The Philippines is a combined society, both singular and plural in form. It is singular as one nation, but plural in that it is fragmented geographically and culturally. The nation is divided between Christians, Muslims, and other religious-ethno-linguistic groups; between urban and rural people; between upland and lowland people; and between the rich and the poor. Although different in numerous ways, the Filipinos are very hospitable and give appropriate respect to everybody regardless of race, culture and belief. Family In a traditional Filipino family, the father is considered the head and the provider of the family while the mother takes responsibility of the domestic needs and in charge of the emotional growth and values formation of the children. Children see their mothers as soft and calm, while they regard their fathers as strong and the most eminent figure in the family. Another particular trait of Filipinos is their strong respect for elders. Children are taught from birth how to say â€Å"po† and â€Å"opo† to teach them as early as possible how to properly respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Upon arriving home, conservative families expect children to practice the kissing of hands or touching their parents or elder family members’ hand to their foreheads with the words â€Å"mano po† as a sort of greeting. Within the family, the parents are expected to receive the highest respect from the children along with the elder siblings, as they are given the responsibility to look after younger siblings when parents are not around. Answering back or addressing parents or elder siblings with an arrogant tone are not at all tolerated in children. The children are also not allowed to leave the house without their parents’ permission. Upon reaching adulthood, Filipino children are not obliged to leave their homes after finishing school. In fact, most of them maintain their close relationship with their parents by staying at home at least before they get married. Moreover, Filipinos keep close connection with other relatives. They recognize them from the second degree to the last they can identify. Weddings The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have special â€Å"sponsors† who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride’s head and the groom’s shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord in a figure-eight shape) over the shoulders of the bride and groom to symbolize everlasting fidelity. The groom gives the bride 13 coins or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wife’s well-being and the we lfare of their future children. Death Death in the Philippines is one of the most important occasions in family life, as attested to by a humorous statement that families have large reunions only during â€Å"Binyag, Kasal at Libing† (Baptisms, Weddings, and Burials/Funerals). Once a Filipino dies, it is traditional to hold a wake. Deceased men are dressed in the traditional Barong Tagalog while women are dressed in either black dresses or in their best dress. Relatives that are closest to the deceased are customarily dressed in black, and women use black veils as well. Caskets of Filipinos are often covered with glass, with the inner part of the lid containing ribbons with the names of the deceased person’s immediate family. Behind the casket is a crucifix between two candles. Flowers are often given in condolence to the family, with a message from the donor written on a ribbon attached to the flowers. Family members keep vigil, pray, eat, talk, and socialize with guests. It is traditional, as with the oth er aspects of Philippine culture, to be hospitable to the guests; this is done by offering food and refreshments to those mourning with the family. After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having a novena of prayers and Masses offered up to the deceased is held, although the beginning of the Siyam na araw varies, but usually ends the week after the death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day mourning period. Family members indicate their state of bereavement by wearing a small, black rectangular plastic pin on their left breast or breast pocket area. A ceremonial mass is held at the end of this 40 day period. Common belief states that the soul goes to Heaven after these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven after the said period of days. The 1 year death anniversary is also a bit significant, as well as the subsequent birth anniversaries of the deceased. Many foreign relatives come to mourn the death of their lost ones. Death is very emotional experience among those close to the deceased. Values The Filipinos are known to be hospitable. But aside from this trait, there are many other values that the Filipinos possess which help them live harmoniously with their neighbors. These have also made the Filipinos appealing towards others due to their pleasant demeanor. The following are some of the Filipino values: Bayanihan is the creation of an association with neighbors and helping whenever one is in disastrous need. Close Family Ties are something the Filipinos are well-known for. The primary social welfare system for the Filipino is the family. Many Filipinos live near their family for most of their lives, even as independent adults. Pakikisama or harmony, involves getting along with others to preserve a harmonious relationship. Hiya is shame and a motivating factor behind behavior. It is a sense of social decency and compliance to public norms and behavior. Filipinos believe they must live up to the accepted standards of behavior and if they fail to do so they bring shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family. Utang na Loob or Debt of Gratitude, is owed by one to a person who has helped him great. There is a local saying: ‘Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalinangan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan’, meaning, ‘One who does not look back o where he started, will no get to where he is going.’ Amor Propio is concern for self image. Filipinos believe that how they present themselves to others is an important aspect to be accepted in society. Delicadeza or sense of propriety refers to sensitivity regarding the limits of proper behavior or ethics in a situation. Filipinos try to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Palabra de Honor or word of honor is very important to the Filipinos. They believe that one must keep their word whenever they make a promise for the person to whom one has made a promise will count on it. Beliefs Before the coming of the Spaniards and the introduction of Roman Catholicism, the indigenous inhabitants were believer of animism, or the worship of nature. Bathala was the supreme god of the tagalogs, symbolized by the sun. Other Tagalog gods and goddesses include the moon, stars, and even objects such as trees, shrubs, mountains, or rocks. The spirits consist of aswang (ghoul), tikbalang, (a man having the head of a horse), kapre (a giant that smokes tabacco), tiyanak(resurrected aborted babies), dwende (dwarves and elves), engkanto (minor spirits), and diwata (fairies and nymphs). Food A typical Filipino meal consists of at least one viand (ulam) served with boiled or fried rice (kanin). Filipinos also regularly use spoons together with forks. They also eat with their hands, especially in informal settings and when eating seafood. Accompanying rice, popular dishes such as adobo (a meat stew made from either pork or chicken), lumpia (mat or vegetable rolls), pancit (noodle dish), and lechon (whole roasted pig) are served on plate. Other popular dishes include: afritada, asado, chorizo sausages used in pancit or fried rice, empanadas, mais (corn), mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fish, cooked in vinegar and water, some spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (salted bread rolls), pescado (fried or grilled fish), torta (omelette). Indigenous Filipino and regional cuisine include: dinuguan, kare-kare (ox-tail stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang (tamarind soup with a variety of pork, fish or shrimp). One delicacy eaten by the Filipino people but are reprehensible to some western cultures is balut (a boiled fertilized duck egg). Popular snacks and desserts indulged in are chicharon, halo-halo, puto, bibingka, ensaymada, polvoron, and tsokolate. Popular local liquors include lambanog, tuba, and basi. Architecture Pre-Hispanic architecture is usually characterized by using indigenous woody materials. The bahay kubo is the mainstream form of housing. It is characterized by the use of indigenous materials such as bamboo and coconut as the main source of wood. Cogon grass and nipa palm leaves are used as roof thatching, although coconut fronds are also used. Most are usually on stilts due to the frequent floods and rainwater during the wet season. Regional variations include the use of thicker and denser roof thatching in mountain areas, longer stilts on coastal areas especially if the structure is built outright on the water. The architecture of some tribes in other regions is characterized by very angular wooden roofs, bamboo in place of leafy thatching and ornate wooden carvings, especially on Mindanao Island. The Spanish introduced stones as housing materials. The introduction of Christianity brought western style churches and subsequently became the center of most towns. Colonial era architecture still survives in Intramuros and Vigan. Contemporary architecture usually favors western-style structures although pre-Hispanic housing is still largely common in rural areas. American style suburban gated communities are popular in the cities, especially Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. Famous Artworks in the Philippines EDSA People Power Monument EDSA, Quezon City The monument towering along EDSA was designed by sculptor Eduardo Castrillo in 1993. The structure was cast to serve as a tribute to the brave Filipinos who marched along the now-historic avenue of EDSA during the 1986 People Power Revolution to overthrow former president Ferdinand Marcos. Quezon Memorial Circle Elliptical Road, Quezon City The Quezon Memorial Circle, the tallest triad structure in Quezon City, was designed by Filipino architect Federico Ilustre. The three vertical pylons of this 66 (Quezons age when he died) meter tall monument correspond to the three major islands of the Philippines(Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Each is topped with a mourning angel holding a sampaguita wreath, all crafted by an Italian sculptor named Francesco Riccardo Monti. Housed inside the two-story barrel-like base is a museum with the remains and other priceless treasures of the late President Manuel L. Quezon. The construction of this Carrara marble-made monument was completed in time for the centennial of Quezons birth in 1978. By the mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos, the site was declared a National Historical Landmark under the Presidential Decree No. 260. U.P. Oblation University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines’ renowned landmark, the Oblation, is a masterpiece of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. In 1935, Guillermo was commissioned by Rafael Palma (then University President) to craft a monument that would express in visual form the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios (â€Å"Last Farewell†). The concrete statue painted in bronze stands 3.5 meter high (to represent the 350 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines) on a pile of rocks symbolizing the islands of the Philippines. Funding for the statue was raised through a 2-month fund campaign that garnered P2,000. The model for the statue was widely rumored to be Fernando Poe, Sr. though there are sources that claim that the real model was Guillermo’s student apprentice Anastacio Caedo. Andres Bonifacio Monument Bonifacio Circle, Monumento, Caloocan City The sculpture featuring a 45-foot high pylon topped by a winged figure of victory was crafted by national artist Guillermo Tolentino in 1929. It commemorates the famous proletarian hero Andres Bonifacio with his revolutionary group, the Katipunan, fighting for the causes of Philippine Revolution injustice, suffering and resistance. The Supremo in his Barong Tagalog, holding a bolo on his right hand and a revolver on the other, stands in front of 22 darkened bronze figures at the base of an octagonal obelisk, the number of sides of which symbolize the first eight provinces that armed against the Spaniards. Other historic figures on the monument are Emilio Jacinto (the â€Å"Brains of Katipunan†) and the three hooded martyred priests (Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora). Leading to the monument are three steps which represent the three centuries of Spanish rule. Cultural Center of the Philippines Roxas Boulevard, Manila Standing on the 21-hectare piece of land along Roxas Boulevard, Manila is Leandro Locsins (National Artist for Architecture) envisioned edifice that serves as the Philippines national center for performing arts – the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). This architectural work is considered one of the most significant landmarks in the country. Completed in 1969, the CCP main building faces the reclaimed land inManila Bay with its marble facade. At its sides are two arching columns beamed 12 meters from the terrace. In front is a large lagoon with fountains illuminated by underwater lights during nighttime. It houses four premier theaters, an ethnographic museum, galleries, and a Philippine arts and culture library. Manila Metropolitan Theater Padre Burgos Street, Manila The Manila Metropolitan Theater- located at the Padre Burgos Street was formerly Manilas premier venue for theatrical performances. Built in 1935, this art deco structure was designed by the distinguished Filipino architect Juan M. de Guzman Arellano. The bronze sculptures of female figures on the facade of the theater are works by the Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti. Inside, there are relief carvings of Philippine plants that adorns the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building designed by the artist Isabelo Tampinco. It needed to be reconstructed after the US and Filipino liberation in Manila in 1945, fell into disuse in the 1960s, was partly restored in the following decade, and fell again into disrepair. It is currently undergoing renovation through Manila City government’s project to restore its historical buildings. The Transfiguration Eternal Garden Memorial Park, Balintawak, Quezon City The brass and bronze sculpture entitled â€Å"The Transfiguration† (1979) is one of Napoleon Abueva’s (national artist and Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture) religious-themed creations, found at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park. His other famous masterpieces that attest to his religiosity include the â€Å"Kiss of Judas† (1955) and the â€Å"Thirty Pieces of History†. Pinaglabanan Shrine Barrio Paraiso, San Juan, Metro Manila A major work of art by Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo is his creation the Pinaglabanan Shrine (1974), located in San Juan, Metro Manila. Also known as Spirit of Pinaglabanan, the shrine is composed of three cut and welded brass figures on a 10 x 4.3 x 4.3 meter sculptured concrete base. This was built in commemoration of the first battle of the 1896 Revolution, which happened on this site. Filipino Struggles Through History (Mural) Bulwagang Katipunan, Manila City Hall One of the most striking murals of Carlos â€Å"Botong† Francisco entitled Filipino Struggles Through History (1963) can be found in the Bulwagang Katipunan of Manila City Hall. As commissioned by former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas, this 270487 centimeter mural was painted in three panels chronicling the history of Manila and the Philippines. It depicts the panoramic episodes of the first great Rajahs of Tondo, the Spanish colonial period, the 1896 Revolution and other events up to the American colonial period. Also seen in this mural are famous Philippine historical personalities such as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Francisco Balagtas, and Limahong.

Ideologies of the ANC and DA

Ideologies of the ANC and DA Ideologies of the ANC and DA that serves as intellectual foundation Introduction Ideologies can be defined as a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. Political Ideologies are the pillars and the foundation of any political party. It is important to have noble political ideologies in order to recruit members with the same beliefs in the party’s ideologies. In this essay, I will identify a few of the ideologies of the ANC and the DA by looking into their manifestos and also give a history of relationship ideologies has with election and a democratic country and also give my opinion on the best ideology as intellectual foundation that will make a change in the country. Ideologies In the book, Politics by Andrew Heywood, we see an Ideology can be defined as Heywood (2013:27) â€Å"A social-scientific viewpoint.† It is a â€Å"coherent set of ideas that provides a basis for organized political action.† When looking at this definition one could deduce various information on the political ideologies of the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance. It is a group a people that forms a political party having a goal to make a difference in the lives of all citizens within the political arena. They also follows certain procedures to govern a country. We need to take into consideration that political ideologies has many facets such as Liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism and feminism as a few. Liberalism is the ideology of the Heywood (2013:31) â€Å"’industrialized West’ and portrayed as a meta-ideology. It is capable of embracing a broad range of rival value and beliefs.† In my opinion it would be a broad range of diversity that we find political ideologies. It is giving everyone an equal chance .It is a sense of equality. For example, Education for all. Heywood (2013:34) Conservatism has its key ideas based on â€Å"tradition-accumulated wisdom from the past† Conservative people are people who are prone to change. They expect society to stay the same, not taking into consideration that people change and make mistakes. Conservative people struggle to accept that â€Å"nothing stays the same.† Conservatism is found a lot in political structure. It poses many challenges and being conservative as an individual in a group setting in politics can sometimes be difficult. Heywood (2013:38) Socialism is to† abolish a capitalist economy based on a market exchange.†[1] Its key ideas are: â€Å"Community, Fraternity, Social Equality, Need, social class, common ownership.† Socialism relates to a society or an organisation. Socialism within politics strive to economic and political equality within the country and that all citizens are equal which is difficult because we all our diverse and celebrate diversity within our country. We all have our different religions and cultures and we are a different. A socialist is someone who wants to cultivate equality and wants to include every â€Å"creed and colour†. Other ideologies include Heywood (2013:47) â€Å"fascism: ‘new man’ a hero motivated by duty and honour and self-sacrifice prepared to dedicate his/her life to the glory of their nation or race and to give unquestioning obedience to a supreme leader.† Fascists are needed for people to believe that there is a leader that can lead the party in the right direction. Heywood (2013:49)Feminism-â€Å"it is more concerned with the reform of the public sphere that is with enhancing the legal and political status of women and improving their educational and career prospects than reordering private or domestic life.†[2]The political sector is dominated by men. In today’s society we see many females who are leaders. The rise of women played an important role in the upliftment of women. They play a very significant role in the country. We need feminist to bring equality of genders. We have a Minister for Women and children. Political ideologies-an introduction Eccleshall (1984:79) The ideology of conservatism: â€Å"If a society is to prosper, it’s political. Social and economic arrangements must be such as to stimulate and satisfy those with most to contribute to the common good.† [3]Politicians are needed to keep balance between all the facets of a country (the citizens, the environment, infrastructure etc.) the so-called business-man, the farmer and the man on the street is at a centre of equality. Geoghegan (1984:115) The ideology of socialism â€Å"is that all forms of socialism comprise three basic components: a critique, an alternative and a theory of transition.†[4] Socialists have a social responsibility to the country. Everyone to have basic rights and access their basic rights. It is that the political party can see the need and then assess the need and find possible solutions. For example: Taking the man from the street and giving him shelter. Jay (1984:153) The ideology of Democracy â€Å"is in agreement with ideology that states democracy denotes a rather different kind of entity, Democracy simply mean rule byof the people. Within this we have aristocracy, monarchy and oligarchy. Democracies shared many political practices in common.† A democracy simply means everybody. A democracy is a government that is governed â€Å"for the people, by the people†. Democracy can be seen as freedom to a certain extent. Democracy is what our leaders fought for, so that we can have equality. Democracy is a form of Ideology where people choose a political party to look after their interest in all aspects of life. Jay (1984:185) The ideology of Nationalism. â€Å"Nationalism is described as a doctrine invented in Europe which holds that humanity is naturally divided into nations, that nations are known by certain characteristics which can be ascertained, and that the only legitimate type of government is national self-government. Nationalism is a political doctrine and not a state of mind.†[5] Nationalists are South African citizens who have strong and firm beliefs in their country. Nationalism is a set of values and beliefs pertaining to the country. Nationalists can also oppress people as they only think of what is nationally possible for its citizens. They are loyal and firm believers in the country. Political ideologies of the 20th century Kohn (1966:133) Racialism: â€Å"the word ‘race’ is primarily a biological term and denotes groups of men differentiated by anatomical characteristics.† Many barriers exist because of racism. Racism exists everywhere, locally and even globally. In my opinion, racism can be oppression through colour, gender and religion. People are seen as â€Å"different† just because they do not have the same skin colour or do not believe in the same religious ideologies. Racism in politics is still very rife since Apartheid and beyond. Racism is the cause of inequality between citizens within a specific country. The biggest example of racism in our country is between the leading party (ANC) and the opposition party (DA).The ANC being â€Å"black† dominated party and the DA being diverse but mostly white. The DA maintains a good BEE balance. BEE is a racist attack in order to â€Å"rectify† the inequalities of the past Apartheid era. Kohn(1966:146) Fascism: †is one of the two great authoritarian mass movements which started in the 20th century in conscious opposition to the middle-class capitalistic civilization of the 19th century. The origins of the fascist movement in Italy are to be found in both the wave of disillusionment and the exacerbated nationalism that swept Italy after 1918.† [6]Fascism is when one leader can not fight socio-economic issues on his/her own and where inequality still exists. Fascism is seen as a mass movement. Political Science in Africa Science vs. philosophy: The Need for a relevant political science. Barongo (1983:17) When we define political science â€Å"the different branches of inquiry may divide into two group the empirical and non-empirical .Empirical seek to explore, to describe to explain to predict occurrences in the world we live in. Non-empirical had disciplines of logic and pure mathematics whose propositions are proved without necessary reference to empirical findings.†[7] In my opinion, political science is a study. And like any study, thorough research has to be done to obtain more information about the specific topic/idea. Every continent/country has their own political ideologies and beliefs because each country is different. Africa being the poorest continent has a tremendous job in order to compete/compare with first world countries. Although our continent is â€Å"poor†, we are rich in resources, especially in research. SA Politics: An Introduction The function of political parties in a democracy De Jager (2015:150-151) We see political parties for â€Å"representing the interest† of their members. In SA â€Å"there is a broad diversity of ideologies, cultures and history and thus interest.† The role of the parties is to ensure that all the interest of their members are taken into consideration. If members put a political party into governance (by voting), the members of that political party expect the party to look after their interests with in the party. The political party must look after the cultural, religious and social beliefs of the members. For example: upliftment within communities and extra-mural activities in wards where the political is in power â€Å"Socialisation and mobilisation: Parties can ensure increased participation of the public by integrating voters into a system and teaching them how and why to play the political game. Doing this they also inadvertently stimulate a sense of political legitimacy for democracy.† Mobilisation is getting a community to be self-sufficient. When political parties creates projects for the community to be self-sufficient. For example: Starting vegetable gardens, informing them about their rights. â€Å"Formation and Recruitment of political leaders: recruit and training political leaders. Not just the ANC has to recruit leaders but the opposition parties.† This consist of encouraging the youth to get involved in politics. It starts at school (debates, trips to Parliament) to inform the youth and make them politically aware of possibilities of a career in politics. In order for them to be successful, they need to have a passion for doing the right thing politics for people. Formation is important to form a youth league to train the youth from an early age. â€Å"Winning Elections and governing: key role of political parties in a democracy is to put forward their philosophies goals and election manifestos to compete for votes. The ANC has won all of the national elections since 1994 because it is very skilled at electioneering and has the largest base of social support.† Canvassing in the area for elections is a form of competition. Politicians say the right things to prospective members even if it is not true just to win votes. If enough people vote, the political party might be successful and win the elections. Many people believe that the ANC brought freedom, but ironically many politicians within the party have been found guilty by the public protector. The ruling party will be in control and hold most seats in government which works to their advantage. â€Å"Maintaining government accountability and influencing decision-making: there are two types of accountability: 1-vertical: emanates through the electorate sine the electorate knows which party is responsible for controlling the government. 2-Horizrontal: channelled through opposition parties which are responsible for systems (e.g.: winning the right to govern).† Jacob Zuma is our president and the leader of the ANC. We need to hold the correct person accountable for his actions. We need to know who will be responsible for the actions of government. Government acts on behalf of the country. The opposition plays an important role to keep the leading party on their toes as competition. The leading party has a lot of influence of decisions with government. They influence decision making as a party. The Ruling Party ANC. De Jager (2015:154) â€Å"The liberation movement celebrated it centenary in 2012. It is a movement that is born out of Christian values of equality and mutual respect led by an African middle class of lawyers, teachers, church ministers and doctors. The early ANC’s call for inclusion in the South African body of politic was as citizens of a common, non-racial society, informed by Christian and liberal conceptions of justice and humanity. The ANC has also been influenced by the ideologies of communism and Africanism, the different approaches of those who were in exile; trade union movements; and those incarcerated during Apartheid. The influence of these different ideologies and traditions continues to have considerable significance for the organisation, leading it to be called a ‘broad church ‘It also helps to explain why the policies and practices emanating from the ANC cover the spectrum from moderate to radical and from liberal to socialist. The ANC still does not recognise itself as a political party; it insists on being a liberation movement. Currently the party is torn between the values of its founders and those who seek political power for personal interest.† Nelson Mandela played an extremely important role in the ANC and the country. He was the forefather of the â€Å"liberation movement.† The ANC strives to keep his legacy alive. Although there was many controversy within the party, they still have some form of success. Julius Malema leaving the ANC led to a decrease in the party, although he left, the ANC is still the most popular political party. They member’s believe that the ANC can not do anything wrong in the political spectrum. The official opposition The DA De Jager (2015:155) The DA is the â€Å"culmination of a long time of political parties splitting and coalescing but its origins go back to the breakaway by a number of liberals form the United Party in 1959 and the formation of the Progressive Party. Helen Suzman played a major role in the history of the DA. The DA supports a ‘programme of non-racial democracy, a limited state, constitutional supremacy and market economy.’ The party is labelled as the ‘white party’. The primary challenge for the party is its growth as non-white members could not become public representatives pre 1994. The key resource for the DA has been access to government and the use of coalitions†[8]. The DA can be seen as the biggest threat to the leading party. The official opposition party. It is a strong opposition. They are the biggest threat to the ANC. The coalition between the DA and the so called â€Å"coloured party† the Independent Democrats lead by Patricia de Lille was one of the biggest political developments we have ever seen post 1994. The history of the party still classifies them as a â€Å"white party†. The DA is quite diverse. The Western Cape is governed by the DA and they are doing quite well here. Although they provide competition for the ANC, they do a lot for the province. The Ideologies of the Democratic Alliance â€Å"What type of society does the DA want to build? 1) The core concept of Zille’s DA is one of an ‘open opportunity society for all,’ which it counter poses to the ANC’s ‘closed crony society for some’ where a clique rules to accumulate wealth. For the DA, a competitive job-creating economy, supported by an efficient education system, are the main drivers of this society. 2) The DA’s education policy subscribes to human capital theory, which considers the purpose of education to be the production of skills for the market, and the raising of productivity and hence economic growth. 3) The DA aims to provide what it refers to as a framework for choice of goods and services, such as schools. The party bases their conception of choice on trickle-down economics; so, as global competitiveness drives economic growth and society becomes richer, its members will be able to exercise the rights and choices for services.† [9] The Ideologies of the African National Congress. â€Å"For more than a century, has led our people in their aspiration for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society as the strategic goal of the National democratic revolution. To ensure all South Africans have access to adequate human settlements and quality living conditions through programmes that provide one million housing opportunities for qualifying households over the next five years, and providing basic services and infrastructure in all existing informal settlements. Improve and expand education and training by making grade R compulsory, eradicating adult illiteracy, and further improving the quality of basic education up to senior grade. The FET college sector will be expanded, with greater support for the needs of students, and compulsory community service for all graduates will be introduced.†[10] Conclusion As we can see from the above information, political ideologies are very important when researching political parties it is also important that the ideologies are in line with the needs of the country (that of the leading party and the opposition party) I agree with the ideologies of the DA as intellectual foundation because their ideologies are more universal and more realistic. All over the world and in all of history, political ideologies were used and accepted by potential members and loyal support of the political party. Various political ideologies should be used as far as possible within the party. Bibliography/Referencing list Heywood, A. 2013. Politics. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Eccleshal, R., Geoghegan, V., Jay, R. Wilford, R. 1984. Political Ideologies:An introduction. Essex: Anchor Brendon Ltd. Kohn, H. 1966. Political Ideologies of the Twentieth Century. New York: The Macmillan Company. Baronga, Y. 1983. Political Science in Africa. London: Zed Press Plc. De Jager, N., Graham, V., Gumede, V., Mangcu, X., Neethling, T., Kotze, J., Welsh, D. 2015. South African Politics: An Itroduction. South Africa: Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Limited. http://africasacountry.com/the-politics-and-ideology-of-helen-zille/ (9 April 2015) http://www.anc.org.za/docs/manifesto/2014/anc-manifesto.pd (9 April 2015) [1] A. Heywood Politics (2013) 27,31,34,38. [2] A. Heywood Politics (2013) 47,49. [3] R. Eccleshall Political Ideologies:an introduction (1984) 79. [4] V. Geoghegan Political Ideologies:an introduction (1984) 115. [5] R. Jay Political Ideologies:an introduction (1984)159,185. [6] H. Kohn Political Ideologies of the Twentieth Century (1966) 133,146. [7] Y. Barongo Political Science in Africa (1983) 17. [8] N. De Jager South African Politics:An Introduction (2015) 150,151,154,155. [9] http://africasacountry.com/the-politics-and-ideology-of-helen-zille/ [10] http://www.anc.org.za/docs/manifesto/2014/anc-manifesto.pd