To teach the masses a love for Bach, Chopin, and Beethoven by Therese Rodriguez

  1. Compare and contrast the government then and now. 

    As of now, I can say that our government has a big difference than then. According to the essay of Therese Rodriguez specifically on page 25, the Philippines before experienced Martial Law when President Marcos Sr. declared it. We all know that the life before of many filipino became hopeless because of the unnecessary actions of the Military due to the power given to them by the government. According to the some articles I've read before about the Martial Law, it really destroys the lives of everybody. Some of our fellow-Filipino citizen are killed, raped and tortured. 

    Now we are free. We can speak out because we have our freedom of speech. So far, we didn't experience the life under Martial Law and that's good. I cannot say that the leaders now are really good but I can see and feel that they doing their job. Our government now is not perfect, we all know that but I am surely sure that the government we have right now are very far from what government they have before. The important things is, we're living the best life peacefully. 

     Despite changes overtime, both government then and now has affect in our lives. Both government imposed laws and regulations that helps us. Then and now, our country was led by Marcos. The government before and now are part of our lives and they both shape us for what and who we are right now.

2. Describe Therese Rodriguez.

  Therese Rodriguez really loves to fight for right. She is also part of different organizations and teams. Some of these organizations according to her essay on page 23, was KDP New York chapter then became a member of the chapter Executive Board. Another organization was the Philippine National Day, The Narciso-Perez Defense Committee and the Anti-Martial Law Alliance (AMLA) and many more. She is also a helpful individual especially to the member of LGBTQ community, some HIV/AIDS victims and even to the immigrants, because now, according to page 23, she is a CEO of the Asian and Pacific Islanders Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA) Community Health Center, which helps people living with HIV/AIDS, Members of the LGBTQ Community and Immigrants of limited English performers. She is also a active activist. On page 24, she is a member of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM or Nationalist youth) and Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK or Democratic Associations of youth). She's smart and has courage to fight against the government uncertain actions towards the country.

3. Make a reaction on the essay.

    While reading the essay I feel amazed but sad at the same time. Amazed when I read some background about Therese Rodriguez on page 23. On that page, I've read all the accomplishment of Therese Rodriguez that made me proud of her. She's so brave, smart and has a loving heart for the country. I also feel amazed when I read on page 24 that she join different demonstrations when she was a students together with some nuns and sympathetic lay teachers. She's willing to join different organizations to fight the political storm in our country. She really care for our country. Even she's far because she moved in New York as what stated on page 25, she tried to establish some connections to the activist in the Philippines and she decided to join the demonstrations when Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in the Philippines. I was so sad about the Martial Law. Before I read the essay of Therese Rodriguez, I already read some articles about Martial Law. Some articles stated that Martial Law was not good but some writers saying that Martial Law are not bad, it just being abused by some. If I were in the shoe of Therese Rodriguez, I will feel guilty also for living the Philippines knowing that the conflict there was really bad and huge. If I would be given a chance to be Therese Rodriguez once in my life, I will do the same thing she did. I am m so proud of her, to all of her good things did for our country and for all the accomplishments she has.