Asha Gutierrez

Ichigo Ichie: One moment at a time

Ichigo ichie helps you discover your ikigai, or life’s purpose—because it’s only by learning to be present, to be tuned into what catches your attention and excites you in the moment, that you can identify what it is that most motivates you and brings you happiness… @ikigaibook I used to think a lot about myContinue reading “Ichigo Ichie: One moment at a time”

Finding the Self through the World of Pageantry

A Journey of Self behind the scenes of Beauty Pageantry… I used to feel shy when walking on runway shows, I feel conscious whenever I speak about my thoughts, and I feel unsure about my abilities whenever I set out to venture on something new. More often than not, on a normal day, I wouldContinue reading “Finding the Self through the World of Pageantry”

The Women’s Baths by Ulfat al-Idlibi

Rewritten in a postmodern technique of magic realism: Our household was troubled by the uncanny: my grandmother, who passed away last week at the age of seventy, still exists within our presence. Her voice is still imminent amongst the whispers of the wind. As the leaves of the Black Mulberry tree make subtle movements, herContinue reading “The Women’s Baths by Ulfat al-Idlibi”

Travel Bliss

Travelling helps us reflect on inner bliss, a contemplative empathy for others, and a yearning to become more spiritual with oneself and the world. In the video that I watched, “Japanology: The Shikoku Pilgrimage,” By Peter Barakan, I was impressed with the path’s serene and calm enlightenment. It made me want to experience it asContinue reading “Travel Bliss”

Essay on Robin Hemley & Mohezin Tejani

Reading Hemley’s essay, helped in grasping one’s cultural consciousness and its present undergoing change due to modernity. “Before we left for Manila again, Pakoran’s daughter Susan handed Laurie a short essay she’d written in her native language. Laurie had asked Susan to write the essay, not because he wanted to encourage her as a buddingContinue reading “Essay on Robin Hemley & Mohezin Tejani”

Gender Studies: Finding One’s True Identity

Gender studies allow us to rethink and reshape our lives. It enables one to question and understand the existence of terms like “sexuality” and the history that they possess. It creates a sense of openness towards each individual through education. To respect each individual despite the differences they may have; it is where they learnContinue reading “Gender Studies: Finding One’s True Identity”

Robert Hass: On Poetic Relevancy

Robert Hass in his book Twentieth Century Pleasures: Prose on poetry essay emphasizes the importance of what is necessary in poetry writing. In the chapter named “One Body: Some Notes on Form”, he argues that everyday experiences and practices are the most efficient to use on one’s own writing of form. He induces that theContinue reading “Robert Hass: On Poetic Relevancy”

Plato’s Republic: A Dialogue of Ethical Politics

Plato’s Republic focused on the argument of what constitutes the being of a good person. It also tackles the definition of Justice and reflects this question on both the political and personal aspects of a human being. His strategy was to develop ideas on the primary notion of the ideal society, politics, and justiceContinue reading “Plato’s Republic: A Dialogue of Ethical Politics”

Modernism over Colonialism

Ananta Pramoedya Toer’s “This Earth of Mankind” “This Earth of Mankind” is a story that speaks of the conflict between modernism and colonialism amongst the Dutch and Indonesian relations. A story consisting of both the rapid change and the stagnant ideals of the characters, it is a story that conflicts on the issues ofContinue reading “Modernism over Colonialism”

Sa Aking Panalangin

A Concept of what it means to be a Filipino… For my great Southeast Asian novel, I choose the Philippines as my designated country. I want to write about my own country through the lenses of the Filipinos who are struggling with poverty, crime, and injustice. I hope to exhibit these problems in a wayContinue reading “Sa Aking Panalangin”