Fly away with me..

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Don't get me wrong, I love N*Sync. It just isn't the topic I am having for this entry. It is all about my thesis topic: the Muslim Migrants in Metro Manila (I still have to digest this broad topic and formulate my proposal).

During the second part of our 199.1, we were asked to finalize our thesis topics. I suggested the political economy of kakanin (all those malagkit food - e.g. suman,maja,etc.), but then it was rejected because of its production's nature of being part of the underground economy. I also suggested something regarding the accesibility of people to community health services but it was not significant knowing it might deal with several medical terms. The next thing I found interesting was that of the displacement of several establishments along Manila Bay. It was rejected too due to its irrelevance to the current issues. Hay. So where did the Muslim topc came from? It was originally suggested by Vina, though she want to focus on piracy. It was mentioned that one relevant topic was the presence of Muslim communities in M.M. and specifically dealt with businesses including selling of pirated and pornographic materials inside public markets and along the metro's sidewalks. And because Vina had already settled on her own topic (regarding ZOTO), it was decided that I would take that topic instead.

It was not my thing however. Roaming around Metro Manila specifically in Muslim-populated areas would mean dealing with an 'out of the ordinary' crowd, the pollution, the rain, and the heat. I am not used to mixing and mingling with other culture (be it the provincial people or the indigenized ones) because I cannot blend in. I may look like an extrovert, even a public person, but I really am not. Siguro approachable lang ako. Hehe. Although I have no idea where to start (except going to the Islamic Studies Center), I would like to view all these as a challenge. Extra challenge. Nax. So here's a list of my (hopefully possible) 'missions' to guide me from now on:

Mission number 1: Be-gin.
I cannot begin unless I SERIOUSLY begin. My launching pad would be by contacting relevant persons and going to places that could open the gates of the Islamic world for me.

Mission number 2: Be in history.
Research would do me great. Reading would be boring but if this one's for preparation of what I am about to go through, then it would be interesting.

Mission number 3: Be informed.
I would be such a loser if I remain in history. After all, these migrants have just arrived in the metro and all I have to do is update myself on their nature and characteristics, plus anything and everything needed for my study. Hehe. Andami yata nun. (Infoload? Toinks.)

Mission number 4: Be in sync.
We will be busy, I mean, we ARE currently busy with all other stuff, particularly with our intoxicating professors. It would not mean that this would be my only priority. (Siguro kasi there's more to life than being all-nerdy nerdy with thesis.Hahaha!) Definitely, the remaining two semesters of my UP life would be simultaneous academic, emotional, spiritual and social growth.

Nice. I'm already excited to finish my thesis.
First I have to start. LOL.

ge. FLEW on 8/13/2008 09:26:00 PM