The Last Samurai: Compare and Contrast Colonel Bagley and Captain Nathan Algren

Colonel Bagley was a former commander of Captain Algren. He was sent to Japan in order to train the Imperial army. He can be considered as an arrogant, selfish, greedy, and heartless. He had a strong desire to succeed and is courageous enough. He often goes to battle without strategies and doesn't care if many of his people die.


Captain Nathan Algren was sent to Japan for the same purpose of training Japanese Imperial soldiers. But instead, he was captured in battle by the Samurai. Through being with them and developing a friendship with Katsumoto, the leader of the Samurai, he learned many things, being familiar with their culture, even learning the Japanese language,becoming better since he was not that good before and developing the Samurai's value of honor (Bushido). He was a man of honor and courage.

Media Log # 2: Why is it more fun in the Philiipines?

Title: "Phils. Anti-Cybercrime       

law will harm free speech,         

International watchdog says.     

Author: Gilbert Felongco           

Author Info: N/A                     

Publisher: GulfNews                 

Date of Publication: 9/29/12   

Summary: The Cybercrime law increases punishments for “crimes” committed in the internet. One of these is online libel. It also gives authorities excessive powers that could disregard freedom of speech. Basically, anyone who uses social networks are now at risk of being imprisoned for a long time.

Main Idea: The Cybercrime Prevention act could disregard freedom of speech.

Supporting ideas: It increases punishments for criminal libel.

                            For years, there is no law governing Cyberspace.

                            It is a serious threat to freedom of expression.

Reaction: This article is making me sad. I am seriously against the Cybercrime law which is obviously a violation of Article 3, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech.....” It would harm free speech and freedom of expression, thus destroy the very essence of democracy.

Publisher; Rappler.com

Title: 2013: Over 18,000 posts at stake

Date: 10/2/12

Author/Author info: N/A

Summary: Over 18,000 government positions are at stake this coming 2013 elections.

Main Idea: Over 18,000 posts are at stake this coming elections

Supporting ideas: Voters will be choosing 12 senators, 232 congressmen, etc.”

Reaction: It is election time once again and we better vote wisely.

Publisher: Abs-cbnnews.com

Title: “Official AVP of More Fun in PH launched”

Date of Publication: 10/1/12

Author/Author info: N/A

Summary: All the “fun” in the Philippines described in the newest promotional video of the Department of Tourism.

Main Idea: “It’s more fun” campaign has gone a long way.

Supporting:  idea: The video highlights various Philippine attractions.

Reaction: I am happy that Philippine Tourism has got a boost.

Why can I say that it is more fun in the Philippines?

Through the mentioned articles above, they convey both positive and negative events that had happened recently. First, the much dreaded cyber crime law, which is a sad reality that our lawmakers have the guts to put away freedom in the internet, and the president signing what can be considered as an "e-martial law",  and as simple as liking an FB status, we can be sued for libel. Hence, fun was nowhere to be found in this article. The next two articles is arguably most fit for the description "More Fun", The elections, with many colorful posters, gimmicks, and infomercials by politicians, and as much as 18,000 posts that need to be filled, with that said "Elections: More Fun in the Philippines", Lastly, Beautiful beaches, scenic attractions, and vibrant nightlife are featured in the latest video presentation of the Department of Tourism, highlighting the "It's more fun in the Philippines" Campaign. For me, each article had shown something unique in the Philippines, and through that unique thing, you shall find fun in our country.

Waiting: An inevitable aspect of life.

Every single day, we find ourselves in a moment that we have to wait. Whether it is waiting for our ride, for our class to start/end, for food to be served, waiting for a friend or a loved one, and waiting for vacations. This goes to waiting for ourselves to mature and to be a better individual, waiting for true love, and even waiting for sad goodbyes. The reality is that every moment in life, involves waiting and that it is a regular fixture in our everyday life.

This text ("The Sacrament of Waiting" -Fr. James Donelan SJ) struck me. I have to admit that I am sometimes impatient and waiting is a pain for me, especially long ones, whether it has to be waiting in long lines at the elevators in Andrew, waiting for the LRT, for food to be served, for a friend that takes too long, or even waiting for class to be dismissed. Simply, I hate waiting. But this text reminded me that in order for you to succeed and find the true meaning in life, you must first need to learn how to wait.

Waiting is one thing you simply cannot remove from our lives. It is inevitable, you really cannot escape the fact that in every given situation, anything isn't given immediately, you really have to give time and wait for it. Waiting is a sacrament in a sense that one must undergo". For us to live the fullness of life, we do have to undergo those long waits.

The line which struck me the most was "How can we ever find either life or love if we are too impatient to wait for it?" As someone who hates waiting, this changed my perception. In order to be a better individual, for you to succeed, enjoy the fullness of life and find love, waiting is always involved . Hence, waiting  is part of the "tapestry of living", It is an inevitable aspect of life. No matter how we try to escape it, you really have to wait. For something to flourish and mature, we always have to wait. By those moments of waiting, it  enables you to become a better individual. Surely, how do we enjoy the goodness that life has to offer if we are too impatient to give time to wait for it?