Perception

Perception

Philosophically, perception is just an image of something that is more tangible.  Psychologically, perception is an interpretation of a person, a place, a thing or even an event.  And since this is psychological, such is subjective and such is far from reality.  Perception might approximate reality but it will never be an equivalent of reality.

Herman von Helmholz (1821-1894) postulated that the human eye sees things differently, hence there is a multitude of version of what one is actually perceiving, the main reason that we are seeing things uniformly is because of the existence of likelihood principle and the process of unconscious inference.  Theoretically, perception could distort reality depending on the state of the senses and cognition of an individual.

One way of using and manipulating the concept of perception is the usage of words and language.  Joseph Goebbels once said that a lie oftentimes repeated becomes the truth.  So a practical application of perception would be to lie so as to distort reality and bending a reality according to what one would like it be.  Just like a painter, reality is your canvass.  According to the usage, manipulation and subtlety of reality bending lies being utilized.

A caveat for this perception bending design (i.e lying), though one could get away for a time, or even get away most of the time; one cannot get away with lying all the time.  Philosophically, the truth eventually comes out.  Reality eventually supersedes perception.

In the realm of cognitive psychology, for a time, perception could be distorted but eventually, reality exposes everything. 

September 7, 2019  

Fury

The God of Fury

Somewhere in the realm of Olympus, there is a god of fury.  Though there is much focus and stories expended on the exploits of Zeus, Athena, Loki or even Mercury, there is a god that is seldom mentioned and whispered only when necessary, among trusted friends.

He is the god of fury.  Now this god doesn’t even have a proper name but all of the named and famous Greek gods have played host and most assuredly played second fiddle to his ploys, whims and exploits.  Behind every godly tantrum, his signature is always found and established.  In fact, only a handful is aware that the first Great War in Olympus that eventually banished the titans bears the signature of this unknown god.

Yes, there is a god of intrigue, a god of deception and even a god of lies.  The god of fury however is very subtle.  He doesn’t take the credit but his creation is there to see for those who are willing to see and appreciate his tapestry of creation.

And now, in this era, time and age.  The age principally dedicated to the advancement of science, pleasure and comfort.  This god lives amongst us.  He is unknown, he is seldom noticed, but he is always lurking within the fringe of our psyche.

Crimes of passion are his usual handiworks, but the more subtle art of bearing grudges is his masterpiece.

Humans have committed crimes in his name.  Death, injury and chaos are the usual derivative of his work.  Sometimes, people wake up angry – sometimes, people sleep with anger in their hearts.  But regardless whether one is sleeping or waking up, one’s anger always lead to something regrettable later on.

So how do we control and contained this destructive god?  An effective mantra was devised to counter his influence.  “It is not right to be angry, if you are right – you do not have to, if you are wrong – you cannot afford to”.

We really have to control our fury, because if we don’t?  We will always be under the influence of this crafty god.

There is a battle for supremacy that is being waged in his name.  We really ought to triumph over this challenge or we will be forever under his rule and whims.  He who controls his anger wins. He may gnash his teeth, beat his chest or even shout inside your mind – but if you don’t give in to his impulse and influence, one is usually able to tame him.  And he might leave you alone.  But such is no guarantee that he wouldn’t be back later.

If you listen hard enough, you might even hear the whisper of his name…  He goes by the name of Temper…

Displacement

Displacement

In the field of psychology, displacement denotes an emotion that is directed to somebody else.  It is a type of defense mechanism, where the ego feels threatened and as a defense, displaces the object of the said action from A to B. 

More commonly, the emotion is anger.  The person, for one reason or another, cannot expressed the anger for subject A, and since emotions needs expression, such anger was finally directed to subject B. 

Now, there is a variety of emotions.  It could be joy, fear, disgust, desire and sorrow (there are many more emotions, but for the sake of simplicity, we are just limiting ourselves in the enumerated emotions).  Displacement is a close relative of compensation theory.  This happens when a person makes up for something that is perceived to be lacking.  Grandparents tend to spoil their grandchildren to make up for the perceived shortcomings that they committed (or did not commit) with their children.

Desire is also an unexplored topic in displacement.  Men turned on by other women turn their desires to their better half.   Indirectly, a desire for other women led to a happy sexual life for married women. The sexual stimulation for men needs an outlet, and usually, the nearest and the most convenient outlet is the wife (and/or girlfriend).

May 8, 2019

Government Bureaucracy

Government Bureaucracy

It is a common knowledge that government by its very nature is an inefficient entity.  Never let a government agency run anything or operate anything, it will always be hounded by inefficient system and redundant processes.  Nobody wants to take responsibility and its personnel have the tendency to be lazy.  Delay is always inevitable and mindless procedures and protocols are the constant rulers.

Stupidity, like a moon, is always hovering around when there is scent of irrationality in any government transaction.  Except for some notable exceptions, such is the very state of Philippine bureaucracy.

The Philippine educational system, which is supposed to be the bastion of hope and intelligence, is also not immune to this mindless monster.  It is supposed to educate students, but instead – the reverse is transpiring and defeating the very source of its existence.  While there are over 100 state universities and colleges, only handfuls are worth mentioning, the rest are mediocre and downright corrupt.

The same is true for the other branches or agencies of the government.  I stay clear of government offices and institutions.  They are greedy, they are ridden with corruption, and they are stupid and downright inefficient.

Last week, I had a brush in with a government entity.  I was supposed to deliver a check payment for an affiliation fee.  The check is in the name of the agency, and surprisingly, the government hospital refuses to accept the check since we cannot establish the name of the student.  From the billing department, I was told to go to the accounting office, and from the accounting office, I was told to go to the psychiatric office and from the psychiatric office, I was told to proceed to the administration office and all to no avail.  At the end of the day, the check was not accepted and I was told to go back when I already know the identity of the student.

Now this is wrong on so many levels.  I was bearing a check which is potential revenue for the government hospital.  But I was pointed to proceed to different offices and ended up wasting time with my transaction still not satisfied.  Here you are, with a check on hand and still refused the simple service of accepting the customary payment for a simple service.

If the transaction was with private organization, it would have been a simple deal.  But since it was with the government, trust them to make it complicated and a waste of time procedure.

All in all, it was a classical government transaction that is inherent in all government agencies and offices.  Inefficient and full of bureaucratic redundancies.  I am supposed to go back this week and I do not relish the thought of towing their line of stupidity.

May 7, 2019

San Miguel Beermen (April 26, 2019)

San Miguel Beermen

For the 5^th consecutive years, SMB have always competed for the finals of the All Filipino Conference in the local Philippine Basketball Association.  They have already won it four times straight and this year, they are gunning for their 5^th all Filipino title.

The anchor of course, is the once in a generation player in the person of their center position.  The ever dominant player, Junemar Fajardo.  Winning the MVP for the fourth time, the fellow is still not done in writing and re-writing PBA history.

Added to the mix is a cast of superlative players who are by themselves are also great players and you have in the mix, right before your very eyes, one of the greatest basketball team assembled (locally, that is). 

Aside from the first five players, you also have a second five players, who would definitely play a first five position in another team – but since SMB is packed with talented players, a second five playing position will just have to suffice.  The team is laden with so many talents that winning championships is just simply a normal thing for them.  The reinforced conference where there is an import is 80% dependent on the quality of import hired, but the local players remain and play a pivotal role when the import is having an off night.

Regardless of the opponent for the championship, SMB will certainly dominate and I even predict boldly, would win their 5^th consecutive all Filipino title.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, ROS and Magnolia are still contesting the right to fight SMB for the crown.  And it really doesn’t matter; both teams are inferior to SMB in terms of talent and destiny.

It will not be a sweep, SMB will lose a game or two in the finals, but make no mistake, SMB will win the all Filipino cup.  That is a certainty, as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting on the west.  It will be a conference dominated by SMB.

The coach is underrated, but he is a winner.  SMB was already a powerhouse long before the entry of its coach, Leo Austria.  But Mr. Austria transformed SMB from a contender into a champion.  And surprisingly, he is just what the team needed.

At any rate, SMB will dominate the all Filipino cup for a very long time, as long as the team in infused with new blood, and with the anchor of great players still playing to their form, I will have a long year ahead of me as a winner. 

Psychology has a relative concept for this.  It is called BIRG-ing (or basking in reflected glory) and admittedly, I am in such a state.  The opposite of this concept is CORF-ing (or cutting off reflected failure).  There is nothing wrong with BIRG-ing, in fact, I am just enjoying the time where my chosen team is victorious. Because truth be told, life is a series of ups and downs, and in basketball, such is also true.  SMB cannot sustain this championship run for a long time and I am just enjoying the moment.

April 26, 2019

PRRD and China (April 25, 2019)

PRRD and China

China have been at the receiving end of history and while America is still the dominant power, China is an emerging power.  History will teach us that whenever there is a face-off between the dominant power versus the emerging power, the dominant power will always prevail but only at a certain level - over time, as more conflict and confrontation arises, the dominant power loses its edge and the emerging power eventually assumes the leadership position.

America is still the dominant and the only true superpower left in the planet, bus such a position is not forever.  Sooner or later, China will take over and that would be the end of that political equation. 

As of this date, China is starting to challenge and flex its muscle.  Testing the resolve of the dominant power whether it would yield its hold on contested geopolitical footholds or grudgingly let go and face the inevitable.

Somewhere in the middle of this geopolitical Olympics is the Philippines.  Traditionally, the Philippines is an ally of America but in its last presidential elections, the country elected an unusual president in the person of Rodrigo R. Duterte.  What makes his election unusual is that PRDD is currently pivoting his foreign affairs policies from a pro-US stance to a pro-China stance.

While the country was always accused of being a lapdog or a client state of USA, now the same country is changing its master.  From a US western direction, to an eastern China stance. 

China is on the threshold of replacing USA as a dominant power and the struggle is currently afoot.  Realistically, it would still be around 2050 before China could really claim its billing, but challenges are now being faced head on.

While the presidential victory of PRRD was no surprise, his pivot towards China was totally unexpected and was never politically predicted.  The ramifications of his win is still being digested and the political results are still in the process of re-shaping RP-US relations as well as RP-China relations.

PRRD is the oldest elected Philippine president and the most vocal one, in terms of juvenile delinquency.  His tirades and cussing were once directed at the US president, the Pope, the UN Secretary General or anyone who is considered to be a western player.

At the opposing end, PRRD is all praises for China.  Though the previous administration won a historic legal victory against China, PRRD is suspending or watering down the legal victory by dancing to the tune of Chinese beat.

To this date, he is currently in China, in a state visit, soliciting funds and loans to make up for the loans that he rejected from the west since they carry a string that is politically and philosophically against his dictatorial tendencies.

The common regret now of the electors is that they voted for someone who is morally and philosophically unqualified to run the country from the presidential office.  They elected someone who takes a short-cut in curing criminality, poverty, and judicial cases.

Someone who instead of filing cases will just simply resort to extra judicial killings, someone who would borrow the future – to ease the current hardship and someone who bullies people rather than command and earn their respect.   

Such is the irony of PRRD and China.

April 25, 2019

Endgame (April 24, 2019)

Endgame

For some, it is the beginning that matters, while for others, it is the current status or middle part that counts while for the shrewd, it is always about the ending (or for the purpose of this writing, the endgame).  This article is about this writer’s musing about the epilogue.  The prologue might be interesting; it explains the origin of what and whom.  The epilogue however shows the summation of all events leading to such and such.

The film of the year or the most anticipated film of the year starts its screening today, April 24, 2019.  Ironically, the story centers on a juvenile plotline of people with extraordinary powers against villains with exceptional powers as well.  Biblically, it is a classic tale of good versus evil and normally, after an initial failure and downfall – the good always trumps over evil.

The same is true for this latest Avengers installment aptly entitled “Endgame”.  While it is a mini tradition now in my family to watch this film on its opening day, for the first time this day, I skipped work in the morning to view the film first thing in the morning (around 8 AM at SM Fairview) so as to finally settle the nagging issue in my mind; about what happens after the first part/installment of the film titled “Infinity War”.

And true to form, the film does not disappoint, issues were settled and plotlines were closed.  I was just looking at the entire SM Cinemas in the entire archipelago and not surprisingly, all of them will show nothing but the latest Avengers installment.  That is a nationwide showing for only one film, not counting the other smaller movie houses in the country.

Sociologically, the significance of this is that people are again going to the movies, this proves the theory that the practice of movie watching is still alive and that if there is a quality film about and around, people would line up – spend hard earned money, just to see and enjoy them.  People are again with one another, going in line, braving the summer heat, just to be together with someone who is important to them personally and watch movies.  People are again spending time with one another to bond and to enjoy each other’s company.  People again are relating and are renewing their relationship and ironically; this film is making it all happen.  The good and the just will always win in the end.

Economically, good and great movies still deliver blockbuster revenues which in turn illuminate and inspire moviegoers.  The producers will make a killing, in terms of revenues and this in turn will give them more courage to create films that is inherently good and not just commercially viable.  Short of being heroic, the creators, the doers, the people who made this particular film possible deserves a pat on the shoulder.  A pat for a job well done and timely done as well.

Psychologically, people still long for the ideal men.  Men who are inherently good; men who are able to do extraordinary things; to right a wrong; to defend the weak and to be godlike in the dispensation of justice.