RHOCHIE AVELINO E MATIENZO | University of Santo Tomas, Phils (original) (raw)

Papers by RHOCHIE AVELINO E MATIENZO

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Krisis-Eksistensial sa Hari ng Kalsada: Isang Pamimenolohiya ng Identidad at Kultura ng Jeepney

The URSP Research Journal, 2021

Nais kong suriin sa akdang na ito ang kalagayan ng minsa'y tinaguriang "Hari ng Kalsada"-ang Jeep... more Nais kong suriin sa akdang na ito ang kalagayan ng minsa'y tinaguriang "Hari ng Kalsada"-ang Jeepney. Tinatalakay dito ang kultural na pananaw at ang mga mabuting kaugaliang Pinoy na nakapaloob dito. Ngunit sa kabila ng mahahalagang ambag na ito, hindi kaila ang nalalapit na pagwawakas ng pagpasada ng nakagisnang nating Jeepney. Partikular na ang krisis na kinakaharap bunsod ng pagpapatupad ng Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon noong 2017. Sa simula ng mga "lockdown" noong Marso 2020, isa ang hanay ng pampublikong transportasyon sa pinakamalubhang tinamaan ng pandemya. Sa hanay na ito, 40% ay mga jeepney. Ayon pa sa kautusan, Marso 31, 2021, ang pagtatapos sa paggamit ng lahat ng tradisyonal na disenyo ng jeepney sa bansa. Gamit ang lente ng pilosopiya, partikular na ang eksistensyalismo, aking pagninilayan ang mga implikasyon sa industriya ng jeepney. Ito ay upang magbigay-pugay sa minsan ng naghatid karangalan sa ating pagka-Pilipino sa buong mundo sa harap ng krisis na kanilang kinakaharap sa panahong ito.

Research paper thumbnail of Kierkegaard in Quiapo!: An Existential Look at the Quiapo Black Nazarene Popular Religious Experience

Scientia: International Journal on Liberal Arts-San Beda , 2014

The first thing to understand is that you don't understand". T he aim of this essay is to philoso... more The first thing to understand is that you don't understand". T he aim of this essay is to philosophically understand the popular religious experience of the Black Nazarene devotees in the light of Soren Kierkegaard's notion of faith. Among popular religious practices in the Philippines, it is the devotion to the Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno in Quiapo Manila that draws much attention not only to the devotees, but also those who intend to explore on the unique exhibition of Filipino faith. Jesuit Catalino Arevalo who is a pioneer in the study of popular religiosity in East Asia contends that despite immensity of its believers, there exist insufficient number of researches conducted and thus necessitates further studies. 2 Among the limited studies, if not by sociologists and historians, are written by anthropologists or theologians, but rarely viewed (or perhaps none!) in the philosophical standpoint. It is in this noble attempt the 19th century existentialist Soren Kierkegaard shall be employed, particularly his notion of faith in coming up with a fresh understanding of the Quiapo religious phenomenon. The choice of framework is based in his comprehensive study of "faith" illustrated in the influential works Fear and Trembling (1843) and Concluding Unscientific Postscript (1846). In Fear and Trembling, the pseudonymous author Johannes de Silentio 3 examines Biblical hero Abraham when confronted by a unique (or perhaps insane) divine ordeal of sacrificing his very own 1

Research paper thumbnail of The Religious Experience of Hermano Puli's Cofradia and the Seeding of the 1896 Philippine Revolution: A Kierkegaardian Reading of Reynaldo Ileto's Pasyon and Revolution

SURI: Journal of the Philosophical Association of the Philippines, 2016

Before the celebrated EDSA people power revolutions in recent Philippine history, Apolinario "Her... more Before the celebrated EDSA people power revolutions in recent Philippine history, Apolinario "Hermano Puli" de la Cruz founded the Cofradia de San José as early as the 19th century, which laid the seminal principles of the Filipino struggle for freedom and eventual democracy. The Cofradia, albeit berated by the Church and Spanish rulers, has become the emblem of the untiring search for authentic freedom against foreign rule and bourgeois leadership. This search for freedom is said to have been motivated by the rituals practiced by the peasants of the Katagalugan (Southern Luzon Region). These rituals, of which the most criticized is the Pasyon Pilapil, were informally documented through popular songs, poetry, and readings. Condemned as abominable and heretical, the suppression of the Cofradia and its rituals led to the brutal persecution of Hermano Puli and the massacre of hundreds of members of the Cofradia in 1841. This study aims to reflect on Reynaldo Ileto's Pasyon and Rebolusyon from an existentialist perspective to philosophically explore the seminal thoughts that stimulated the late 19th-century Philippine uprisings against colonial Spain. Ileto contends that the brotherhood's teachings followed a tripartite structure of Dalit (light); as it begins with the brightness (innocence at the Garden of Eden), followed by darkness (Christ's passion and death), towards the luminous glory (of the Resurrection). This gradation, consciously and unconsciously, influenced the Katipunan that played a massive role in the Filipino struggle for independence at the turn of that century. It is a factor that has influenced the present-day concern for empowerment, especially for those people standing at the social margins.

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting the Philosophy of Bahala Na Folk Spirituality

FILOCRACIA: An Online Journal of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, 2015

One of the areas in the discourse on God and secularism is found in the phenomenon of ―folk spiri... more One of the areas in the discourse on God and secularism is found in the phenomenon of ―folk spirituality. In the Philippines, an important yet undervalued religious theme is found in the expression ―Bahala na.‖ Ambivalently viewed by social scientists throughout local history, its more fatalistic flavor has been more emphasized than its positive attributes. Such paved the way for the attitudes of indolence and irresponsibility in the current Filipino worldview and its approach to folk spirituality. This essay argues that Bahala na folk spirituality is more than cynical if viewed via recent discussions on the philosophy of God and religion. The paper is focused on two: first, a survey of the major theories on the phenomenon by the social and culture experts, and second, a philosophical interpretation of the manifestations of Bahala na in the light of the existentialist framework of faith. This study neither claims nor bolsters existing thoughts on Bahala na. Instead, it wishes to contribute another facet to the age-old quest for answers on God and religion via this unique Filipino folk spirituality.1
Key terms: Bahala na, the leap of faith, folk spirituality

Research paper thumbnail of On the Pedagogy of Irony and the Irony of Pedagogy: Kierkegaard on the Paradoxicality of Christian Education

FILOCRACIA: An Online Journal of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, 2017

The study aims to explore an approach to Christian education in the light of the Kierkegaardian n... more The study aims to explore an approach to Christian education in the light of the Kierkegaardian notion of subjectivity. This claims that subjectivity lies in the paradox of existence, i.e., in the matters of truths of Christianity, one cannot teach them but can only live them in order to impart true understanding. In modern-day education, in which results are measured by quantity, this paper hopes to turn such reservation into a liberating experience, both for the learner and the teacher, amidst present-day secularism.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Epistemolohiya ng Kahayupan: Isang Etikong Pagninilay / The Epistemology of the Animal: An Ethical Reflection

The URSP Research Journal, 2020

Ang kontemporaryong pilosopo na si Peter Singer ay tanyag sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mga hay... more Ang kontemporaryong pilosopo na si Peter Singer ay tanyag sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mga hayop gamit ang utilitarianismong pananaw ni Jeremy Bentham. Ipinanukala ni Singer na hindi nararapat gawin sa mga hayop ang mga bagay na hindi natin ginagawa sa ating katawan bilang tao katulad ng pagpapahirap at pananakit sa mga ito. Maging ang mga Kristiyanong iskolar tulad Rod Preece at David Fraser ay kumikilala sa pantay na karapatang ito ng mga hayop sa pamamagitan ng pag-aanalisa ng salitang "dominion" sa aklat ng Henesis. Maging ang Santo Papa Francisco nuong 2014 ay nagsambit ng kanyang kontrobersyal na pahayag na ang mga hayop man ay maaari rin makarating sa paraiso. Sadyang malawak na ang kamalayan patungkol sa pag-aalaga ng kapakanan ng mga hayop. Dito sa ating bansa nuong taong 1998 naisabatas ang R.A. 8485 o ang "Animal Welfare Act" na kauna-unahang batas sa na komprehensibong nag-uutos sa makataong pagtrato sa mga hayop. Taong 2011, naisabatas naman ang R.A. 10631 upang paigtingin ang umiiral na batas sa animal welfare. Ang mga nabanggit ay naka-angkla sa etika ng pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng buhay. Sa papel na ito, nais kong maglahad ng isang punto de vista gamit ang lente ng epistemolohiyang Filipino, partikular ang "lohikong heometriya" ni Leonardo Mercado. Makadaragdag ang akdang ito sa pagpapayaman ng diskursong di' masyadong nasasaling ng mga iskolar sa Pilosopiyang Filipino at mga usapin patungkol sa Etika ng Kapaligiran at sa mga nagnanais mag-aaral nito.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Mukha ng Kapwa: Pagmumuni sa Ilang Pilipinong Karanasan ayon sa Etika ni Levinas / The Face of the Other: Reflecting on Some Filipino Experiences according to Levinasian Ethics

Lukad: An Online Journal of Pedagogy, 2022

Emmanuel Levinas' philosophy of altruism, particularly his notion of the Other, does not only tra... more Emmanuel Levinas' philosophy of altruism, particularly his notion of the Other, does not only transcend the intellectual discourse of the 20th century but also cultivates a viable paradigm for human relationships across nations. With atrocities happening in the present-day communication era in several countries in Asia and Europe, Levinasian ethics seems to be a reasonable means. In the Philippines, some traditions demonstrate this ethics, which I suggest, once given consideration, may deliver authentic social transformation. Despite the absence of direct influence between Levinas' thoughts and Filipino cultural values, this study seeks to view that these norms are the revelation of his thoughts. Hence, the aim of this essay is twofold: first is to find evidence that Levinasian ethics of the Other is experienced in the lives of Filipinos, particularly in their cultural values such as utang na loób, hiya, strong family ties, and bahala na. Second, the study wishes to offer Levinasian altruism as a form of an alternative model to the policy-making bodies to evaluate (and perhaps resolve) conflicts not only in the country but among nations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Quiapo Leap: A Kierkegaardian Reading of the Religious Experience of the Black Nazarene Popular Devotion

Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy, 2016

In 1521, the Spanish conquistadores brought Christian faith to the Philippine islands. Through ce... more In 1521, the Spanish conquistadores brought Christian faith to the Philippine islands. Through centuries, this faith is infused with the indigenous culture of the people paving a way to what is known today as "Filipino popular devotion." One of the most famous among its rituals is the annual Traslación devotion in honor of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila. In recent decades, there has been a vast measure of literature on this religious phenomenon. However, most of them are either written by social scientists or religious experts and very seldom has it been explored in a philosophical manner. This paper aims to reflect on the religious experience of the Black Nazarene popular devotion in order to provide a philosophical appreciation of this unique Filipino faith, in particular, and to provide an avenue towards a deeper understanding indigenous culture and Christian faith, in general. In meeting this aim, the study invokes Søren Kierkegaard's existentialism and its discussion on "faith" illustrated in two of his renowned works Fear and Trembling and Concluding Unscientific Postscript.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Pagkilos ng Pananampalataya at Utang na Loob: Si Hornedo sa Etnograpiya ng Popular na Paniniwala / The Movement of Faith and the Debt of Good Will: Hornedo on the Ethnography of Popular Belief

Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy, 2017

The essay is a humble contribution to commemorating the second death anniversary of the ethnologi... more The essay is a humble contribution to commemorating the second death anniversary of the ethnologist, philosopher, and linguist Florentino Hornedo. This aims to illustrate his analysis of "utang na loob" as a culture and its relevance to faith in the context of popular belief. It further justifies that utang na loob is more than a "system of obligation" but a lifetime decision greater than its usual connotation. Albeit the study is just an exploration of the existing discourses, it is distinct in the manner of approach as it views this unique Filipino trait under the lens of “freedom” formulated by Hornedo.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Krisis-Eksistensial sa Hari ng Kalsada: Isang Pamimenolohiya ng Identidad at Kultura ng Jeepney

The URSP Research Journal, 2021

Nais kong suriin sa akdang na ito ang kalagayan ng minsa'y tinaguriang "Hari ng Kalsada"-ang Jeep... more Nais kong suriin sa akdang na ito ang kalagayan ng minsa'y tinaguriang "Hari ng Kalsada"-ang Jeepney. Tinatalakay dito ang kultural na pananaw at ang mga mabuting kaugaliang Pinoy na nakapaloob dito. Ngunit sa kabila ng mahahalagang ambag na ito, hindi kaila ang nalalapit na pagwawakas ng pagpasada ng nakagisnang nating Jeepney. Partikular na ang krisis na kinakaharap bunsod ng pagpapatupad ng Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon noong 2017. Sa simula ng mga "lockdown" noong Marso 2020, isa ang hanay ng pampublikong transportasyon sa pinakamalubhang tinamaan ng pandemya. Sa hanay na ito, 40% ay mga jeepney. Ayon pa sa kautusan, Marso 31, 2021, ang pagtatapos sa paggamit ng lahat ng tradisyonal na disenyo ng jeepney sa bansa. Gamit ang lente ng pilosopiya, partikular na ang eksistensyalismo, aking pagninilayan ang mga implikasyon sa industriya ng jeepney. Ito ay upang magbigay-pugay sa minsan ng naghatid karangalan sa ating pagka-Pilipino sa buong mundo sa harap ng krisis na kanilang kinakaharap sa panahong ito.

Research paper thumbnail of Kierkegaard in Quiapo!: An Existential Look at the Quiapo Black Nazarene Popular Religious Experience

Scientia: International Journal on Liberal Arts-San Beda , 2014

The first thing to understand is that you don't understand". T he aim of this essay is to philoso... more The first thing to understand is that you don't understand". T he aim of this essay is to philosophically understand the popular religious experience of the Black Nazarene devotees in the light of Soren Kierkegaard's notion of faith. Among popular religious practices in the Philippines, it is the devotion to the Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno in Quiapo Manila that draws much attention not only to the devotees, but also those who intend to explore on the unique exhibition of Filipino faith. Jesuit Catalino Arevalo who is a pioneer in the study of popular religiosity in East Asia contends that despite immensity of its believers, there exist insufficient number of researches conducted and thus necessitates further studies. 2 Among the limited studies, if not by sociologists and historians, are written by anthropologists or theologians, but rarely viewed (or perhaps none!) in the philosophical standpoint. It is in this noble attempt the 19th century existentialist Soren Kierkegaard shall be employed, particularly his notion of faith in coming up with a fresh understanding of the Quiapo religious phenomenon. The choice of framework is based in his comprehensive study of "faith" illustrated in the influential works Fear and Trembling (1843) and Concluding Unscientific Postscript (1846). In Fear and Trembling, the pseudonymous author Johannes de Silentio 3 examines Biblical hero Abraham when confronted by a unique (or perhaps insane) divine ordeal of sacrificing his very own 1

Research paper thumbnail of The Religious Experience of Hermano Puli's Cofradia and the Seeding of the 1896 Philippine Revolution: A Kierkegaardian Reading of Reynaldo Ileto's Pasyon and Revolution

SURI: Journal of the Philosophical Association of the Philippines, 2016

Before the celebrated EDSA people power revolutions in recent Philippine history, Apolinario "Her... more Before the celebrated EDSA people power revolutions in recent Philippine history, Apolinario "Hermano Puli" de la Cruz founded the Cofradia de San José as early as the 19th century, which laid the seminal principles of the Filipino struggle for freedom and eventual democracy. The Cofradia, albeit berated by the Church and Spanish rulers, has become the emblem of the untiring search for authentic freedom against foreign rule and bourgeois leadership. This search for freedom is said to have been motivated by the rituals practiced by the peasants of the Katagalugan (Southern Luzon Region). These rituals, of which the most criticized is the Pasyon Pilapil, were informally documented through popular songs, poetry, and readings. Condemned as abominable and heretical, the suppression of the Cofradia and its rituals led to the brutal persecution of Hermano Puli and the massacre of hundreds of members of the Cofradia in 1841. This study aims to reflect on Reynaldo Ileto's Pasyon and Rebolusyon from an existentialist perspective to philosophically explore the seminal thoughts that stimulated the late 19th-century Philippine uprisings against colonial Spain. Ileto contends that the brotherhood's teachings followed a tripartite structure of Dalit (light); as it begins with the brightness (innocence at the Garden of Eden), followed by darkness (Christ's passion and death), towards the luminous glory (of the Resurrection). This gradation, consciously and unconsciously, influenced the Katipunan that played a massive role in the Filipino struggle for independence at the turn of that century. It is a factor that has influenced the present-day concern for empowerment, especially for those people standing at the social margins.

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting the Philosophy of Bahala Na Folk Spirituality

FILOCRACIA: An Online Journal of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, 2015

One of the areas in the discourse on God and secularism is found in the phenomenon of ―folk spiri... more One of the areas in the discourse on God and secularism is found in the phenomenon of ―folk spirituality. In the Philippines, an important yet undervalued religious theme is found in the expression ―Bahala na.‖ Ambivalently viewed by social scientists throughout local history, its more fatalistic flavor has been more emphasized than its positive attributes. Such paved the way for the attitudes of indolence and irresponsibility in the current Filipino worldview and its approach to folk spirituality. This essay argues that Bahala na folk spirituality is more than cynical if viewed via recent discussions on the philosophy of God and religion. The paper is focused on two: first, a survey of the major theories on the phenomenon by the social and culture experts, and second, a philosophical interpretation of the manifestations of Bahala na in the light of the existentialist framework of faith. This study neither claims nor bolsters existing thoughts on Bahala na. Instead, it wishes to contribute another facet to the age-old quest for answers on God and religion via this unique Filipino folk spirituality.1
Key terms: Bahala na, the leap of faith, folk spirituality

Research paper thumbnail of On the Pedagogy of Irony and the Irony of Pedagogy: Kierkegaard on the Paradoxicality of Christian Education

FILOCRACIA: An Online Journal of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, 2017

The study aims to explore an approach to Christian education in the light of the Kierkegaardian n... more The study aims to explore an approach to Christian education in the light of the Kierkegaardian notion of subjectivity. This claims that subjectivity lies in the paradox of existence, i.e., in the matters of truths of Christianity, one cannot teach them but can only live them in order to impart true understanding. In modern-day education, in which results are measured by quantity, this paper hopes to turn such reservation into a liberating experience, both for the learner and the teacher, amidst present-day secularism.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Epistemolohiya ng Kahayupan: Isang Etikong Pagninilay / The Epistemology of the Animal: An Ethical Reflection

The URSP Research Journal, 2020

Ang kontemporaryong pilosopo na si Peter Singer ay tanyag sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mga hay... more Ang kontemporaryong pilosopo na si Peter Singer ay tanyag sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mga hayop gamit ang utilitarianismong pananaw ni Jeremy Bentham. Ipinanukala ni Singer na hindi nararapat gawin sa mga hayop ang mga bagay na hindi natin ginagawa sa ating katawan bilang tao katulad ng pagpapahirap at pananakit sa mga ito. Maging ang mga Kristiyanong iskolar tulad Rod Preece at David Fraser ay kumikilala sa pantay na karapatang ito ng mga hayop sa pamamagitan ng pag-aanalisa ng salitang "dominion" sa aklat ng Henesis. Maging ang Santo Papa Francisco nuong 2014 ay nagsambit ng kanyang kontrobersyal na pahayag na ang mga hayop man ay maaari rin makarating sa paraiso. Sadyang malawak na ang kamalayan patungkol sa pag-aalaga ng kapakanan ng mga hayop. Dito sa ating bansa nuong taong 1998 naisabatas ang R.A. 8485 o ang "Animal Welfare Act" na kauna-unahang batas sa na komprehensibong nag-uutos sa makataong pagtrato sa mga hayop. Taong 2011, naisabatas naman ang R.A. 10631 upang paigtingin ang umiiral na batas sa animal welfare. Ang mga nabanggit ay naka-angkla sa etika ng pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng buhay. Sa papel na ito, nais kong maglahad ng isang punto de vista gamit ang lente ng epistemolohiyang Filipino, partikular ang "lohikong heometriya" ni Leonardo Mercado. Makadaragdag ang akdang ito sa pagpapayaman ng diskursong di' masyadong nasasaling ng mga iskolar sa Pilosopiyang Filipino at mga usapin patungkol sa Etika ng Kapaligiran at sa mga nagnanais mag-aaral nito.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Mukha ng Kapwa: Pagmumuni sa Ilang Pilipinong Karanasan ayon sa Etika ni Levinas / The Face of the Other: Reflecting on Some Filipino Experiences according to Levinasian Ethics

Lukad: An Online Journal of Pedagogy, 2022

Emmanuel Levinas' philosophy of altruism, particularly his notion of the Other, does not only tra... more Emmanuel Levinas' philosophy of altruism, particularly his notion of the Other, does not only transcend the intellectual discourse of the 20th century but also cultivates a viable paradigm for human relationships across nations. With atrocities happening in the present-day communication era in several countries in Asia and Europe, Levinasian ethics seems to be a reasonable means. In the Philippines, some traditions demonstrate this ethics, which I suggest, once given consideration, may deliver authentic social transformation. Despite the absence of direct influence between Levinas' thoughts and Filipino cultural values, this study seeks to view that these norms are the revelation of his thoughts. Hence, the aim of this essay is twofold: first is to find evidence that Levinasian ethics of the Other is experienced in the lives of Filipinos, particularly in their cultural values such as utang na loób, hiya, strong family ties, and bahala na. Second, the study wishes to offer Levinasian altruism as a form of an alternative model to the policy-making bodies to evaluate (and perhaps resolve) conflicts not only in the country but among nations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Quiapo Leap: A Kierkegaardian Reading of the Religious Experience of the Black Nazarene Popular Devotion

Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy, 2016

In 1521, the Spanish conquistadores brought Christian faith to the Philippine islands. Through ce... more In 1521, the Spanish conquistadores brought Christian faith to the Philippine islands. Through centuries, this faith is infused with the indigenous culture of the people paving a way to what is known today as "Filipino popular devotion." One of the most famous among its rituals is the annual Traslación devotion in honor of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila. In recent decades, there has been a vast measure of literature on this religious phenomenon. However, most of them are either written by social scientists or religious experts and very seldom has it been explored in a philosophical manner. This paper aims to reflect on the religious experience of the Black Nazarene popular devotion in order to provide a philosophical appreciation of this unique Filipino faith, in particular, and to provide an avenue towards a deeper understanding indigenous culture and Christian faith, in general. In meeting this aim, the study invokes Søren Kierkegaard's existentialism and its discussion on "faith" illustrated in two of his renowned works Fear and Trembling and Concluding Unscientific Postscript.

Research paper thumbnail of Ang Pagkilos ng Pananampalataya at Utang na Loob: Si Hornedo sa Etnograpiya ng Popular na Paniniwala / The Movement of Faith and the Debt of Good Will: Hornedo on the Ethnography of Popular Belief

Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy, 2017

The essay is a humble contribution to commemorating the second death anniversary of the ethnologi... more The essay is a humble contribution to commemorating the second death anniversary of the ethnologist, philosopher, and linguist Florentino Hornedo. This aims to illustrate his analysis of "utang na loob" as a culture and its relevance to faith in the context of popular belief. It further justifies that utang na loob is more than a "system of obligation" but a lifetime decision greater than its usual connotation. Albeit the study is just an exploration of the existing discourses, it is distinct in the manner of approach as it views this unique Filipino trait under the lens of “freedom” formulated by Hornedo.