Love is a Fallacy (summary)

The narrator was keen, logical and intelligent yet he was only eighteen.

He has a roommate in the university named Petey Bellows. They are on the same age and same background. Petey is a silent-type.

One afternoon, the narrator saw Petey lying on his bed. The narrator said that he will get a doctor but Petey suddenly said that he wants a raccoon coat. He said that he will give anything for it.

It so happened that the narrator’s father has a raccoon coat on his undergraduate days.

He suddenly thought of Polly Espy, a close friend of Petey. He wanted her for some valid reasons.

He was a freshman in a law school and in a few years would soon be out in practice. He is aware of what kind of wife to choose in furthering a lawyer’s career. His specifications fitted Polly perfectly.

She is beautiful, gracious but not intelligent.

He believed that it is easier to make a beautiful dumb girl smart than an ugly intelligent girl beautiful. He asked Petey if he was in love with Polly. Petey said that he does not know if he’d call it love. He kept on asking Petey about Polly but all of Petey’s answers were all negative. He then gave the raccoon coat. He said that he wanted Polly in exchange for the raccoon coat. Petey refused. Later, Petey realized that he was nothing to Polly or Polly to her. The two men both agreed that it is a deal.

He had his first day with Polly. He took her to a dinner, then to a movie, and then took her home.

The next date, he taught Polly about Logic, a science of thinking, and its common fallacies.

He had made a logician out of Polly for five nights. Polly was worthy for her at last.

Then he said to Polly that they have spent five nights together and it is clear that they are well matched.

Polly said that it is a hasty generalization, an argument where there are few instances to support a conclusion. She asked how he can say that they are well matched in a basis of only five nights.

He said that she don’t have to eat a whole cake to know that it is good.

Polly said that it is a false analogy, a wrong argument, because she isn’t a cake but a girl.

He was pleased because Polly has learned her lessons well. He won’t take chances anymore because he knew that Polly will apply her lessons on it so he thought of direct declaration of love.

He said that he loves Polly.

Polly said that it is Ad Misericordiam, not an argument.

He said that if he had not come along, Polly would never have learned about fallacies.

Polly said that it is a Hypothesis Contrary to the fact, an argument where someone can't start with a hypothesis that is not true and then draw any supportable conclusions from it.

He said that Polly knew that the things she learns in school don’t have to do with life.

Polly said that it is a Dicto Simpliciter, an argument based on unqualified generalization.

He went straight to the point. He asked her if she would go steady with him or she will not.

Polly refused because that afternoon, she has promised Petey Bellows that she would go steady with him.

He became angry so he said that Petey is a liar, a cheat and a rat

Polly said that he is Poisoning the Well, an argument wherein someone has hamstrung his opponent before he could start.

He compared himself with Petey. He asked if Polly could give a logical reason why she should go steady with Petey Bellows.

She said that she can and that is because he’s got a raccoon coat.

Love is a Fallacy (reaction)

At first, I thought that the story “Love is a Fallacy” by Max Schulman is not a nice story. Later, after reading the story, I have realized that the story is beautiful and is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

In the first paragraph, I was very amazed in the characteristics of the narrator. He was keen, logical, and intelligent. And to think that he was only eighteen that time!

I think that Petey bellows already knew that if he can have a raccoon coat, Poly will go steady with him and he knew that Polly is dull so she is easy to get that is why he asked the narrator to buy him a raccoon coat. And the narrator was very innocent to know the truth so without knowing what the reason is really; he gave the raccoon coat to Petey.

The narrator is also very fool and he did not think Logic, the science of thinking and its fallacies will be used by Polly in preventing him to be his wife.

In fact, I have not learned about logic, but I have learned how to apply the logical reasoning. It was taught to me by Sir Manlunas, before he was on leave, and Mme. Kerr. We used that in proving some statements wrong. For instance, the sentence “I eat what I see” is different from the sentence ‘I see what I eat”. For your information, the sentences were taken from the story “Alice in Wonderland”.

I cannot understand the narrator why he really wants Polly to be his wife. Your answer might be because she is beautiful and graceful. But why of all the girls in the world he chose Polly? In my opinion, there are other girls out there who are much worthy of him than Polly. And besides, there are other girls who are more beautiful but intelligent than Polly. Oh! Maybe you will object my opinion but we have nothing to do with it because it is Max Schulman’s decision. It depends on him to choose who will be the characters and what will be their attitudes. It depends on him to choose their destiny and it up to him what will be the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the denouement, and the resolution.

Let us talk about Polly. I think she is really beautiful because as stated in the story, she is perfect for the narrator. She is also gracious. The narrator once saw her in the restaurant. She is eating something, maybe a hamburger with some sauce. Speaking of sauces, my finger will really be wet if I am eating something with sauce. Unlike me, Polly eat hamburger without getting her fingers wet. She is also graceful in holding kitchen utensils when she is eating. She is almost perfect. She is even fit to be a Miss Universe but one thing lucking in her is the intelligence The narrator believed that it is easier to make a beautiful dumb girl smart than an ugly intelligent girl beautiful. He has proved this at first because Polly applied her lessons in Logic in reasoning. But later, I have found out that Polly is still dumb because she will go steady with Petey Bellows only because he has a raccoon coat. The narrator’s believe was proven wrong. And, in my opinion, if the narrator did not give his father’s raccoon coat to Petey, there is a possibility that Polly will go steady with him instead of Petey.

losing Mme. Kerr

When Sir Manlunas said that he would be on leave, we felt sad because we cannot see him for the next days including her charming, lovable, cute and our second mother, Mme. Manlunas
I still remember the demonstration made by Sir Arsenal and Mme. Kerr. They applied as substitute for Sir Manlunas for one school year in the subject "Plane and Solid Geometry". Honestly, I have favored Sir Arsenal because of my first impression about him. I think he is kind and not strict. I also thought that Mme. Kerr is very strict because if you look at her, you will be afraid. As time goes by, I have realized that I was wrong. I liked Mme. Kerr very mu ch because she is very understanding. She is also very considerate especially in our assignments. There is one time when I have not copied the correct given. She still considered my answer because as what I have said she is very considerate. I have also realized that sometimes, first impressions can lead you to sin and they are not true at times.
I am very amazed of how Mme. Kerr handles her class and of how she gets a way of knowing her students, especially of their mistakes. She asked us to write something positive about our classmates in a one whole sheet of paper, that is excluding ourselves. She also asked us to write about our classmates' wrong doings and what we feel negative about them.
Of all the teacher that I have met, she is the only one who let me realize that I am not a good student. I will not respect other's decision especially when our test papers are distributed. I always ask what scores me classmates got in the test. If they will not tell me, I will still force them to say. My classmates has no choice but to say it even if it is very hard for them to say especially when they got low scores. I am also a negative thinker or I think things negatively. I also complain if I don't have this and that. But to tell you frankly, if I say that say, that I really mean it.
After that, I have realized who I am and I started to correct those mistakes that I did.
I also remembered one time when she signed our card. Her signature is MCKerr .That time also, asked Mc Cherry to count the cards so I thought that MC is from the name MC Cherry and the Kerr is from Mme. Kerr's family name. But later I have realized that her true name is Maria Chona Kerr. That is why she has M and C as initials. From then on, I have understood that M is for Maria, C is for Chona. So when I have realized that I laughed and laughed until my stomach ached.
I also liked her way of teaching because it is very effective. She also understands those people who don't have books so she explains the lesson well. She also helps people in time of need. When we got a low score in math, she is the one who has found a tutor for us.
I feel sorry for the first years this year because they cannot have a good and loving teacher in Geometry such as Mme. Kerr.
No one remains in his or her place. Some may come and some may go. There are those who are good,much better and the best.
Anyway, we will spend our last moments happily together. We will still remember her in our hearts because she is very special. She made us into better persons and good children of God.
We will miss you Mme.......Isn't it?

loving enemies..

If someone tells you to love your enemies, would you follow what that guy is telling you? What if that guy is Jesus, the one who created you and guided you to be who you are now, would you still follow?
How can you love someone who raped you or your sister or your mother or your daughter or killed your father or brother or a neighbor who keeps shouting at her children early morning or who plays loud music until three in the morning?
How can you forgive someone who keeps on backbiting you or has damaged your name or has put you into shame in the public?
Rev. Fr. Loloy Jumauan said in his homily that there are three kinds of love. One of those is the agape. One example of agape is loving enemies. This is the message of Christ. "Love your enemies. Do good to those who curse you. Pray for the happiness of those who hurt you. If someone slaps you in one cheek, offer the other as well. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. ""Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay you . Then the reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly acting as children of the most high for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your father is compassionate.
This could be suitable for the story of David and Saul. Saul became jealous with David because he is much admired and adored by people.
It is also the same in the story of Florante and Adolfo in the novel "Florante at Laura". Adolfo hates the Much adored Florante. Adolfo blamed Florante that he has taken his honor. Adolfo envied Florante very much that he seized Florante's one and only love, Laura. He forced Laura to marry him.
Do you also believe in the principle "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"? As the leader of the Indian National Congress and the Charismatic leader who lead the Indian people to independence, Mohandas Gandhi or much popular in the name Mahatma (Holy Person) Gandhi said that: "If we live by "an eye for an eye" justice, the whole world would be blind today."
The late Pope John Paul II was shotted by his Turkish assassin, Mehmot Ali Agca. After the Holy Father had recovered, he visited him in the prison cell and forgave him for the sins that he made. Agca remains in the prison cell because he still has done a crime. Despite of forgiveness, Justice is still there.
My mother hates her cousin very much. It is because when my mother needed some money to buy some medicine for my sick brother, my aunt( which is also her cousin) did not gave her any. My aunt said that she has no money. Few days later, my brother died. When my relative asked my mother if my aunt has given her some money, my mother said no. She said that my aunt has not given her even a centavo. My relative said that she also asked some money from my aunt. My aunt said she has no change. “How come she has no change when she has no money?”, my mother said.
See? It takes time for “forgiveness” to come. It does not come early especially when someone has left a wound in someone's heart. We should apply Jesus' words in our daily lives because they will help us in times of troubles and will keep us away from sin.

What a journey it has been...

“What a journey it has been. And the end is not inside. But the stars are up tonight. Ands they’re bound to guide my way. When they’re shining on my life, I can see a better day.” These are only few of Lea Salonga’s song entitled “journey”. This song is our graduation song. While I was singing this or every time the DJ plays this song on the radio, I remember my elementary years.
I remembered when it was my first time to wear a pair of shoes. My mother joshed me that I am like a robot (I was really like a robot that time because I usually wear sandals when I was a kid and before I entered kindergarten). I always remember the happy moments in kindergarten. One day, my teacher was really impressed with me so she gave me an ice candy (the school was selling ice candy that time). With just an ice candy, I was very happy. Unfortunately, I got ill so I had some absences. On the graduation day, my mother was really proud with me because I was the second honor. My teacher said that I was supposed to be the first honor student but I had absences so it made my ranking low.
I like to remember the memories because I just like to reminisce the way I live my life before.
On the first day, when I was in grade one, my teacher scolded me because I played bubbles in her class. She even hit me with a ruler. Later, my teacher gave me the same ruler she used in hitting me…..Laugh Out Loud….
I am not in class for almost one month in Grade two because my mother delivered my younger brother. He is incubated so we must stay in the hospital for days to take care of him. I have met a friend there. We started to become friends when she told me where is the way that leads to the store which sells juice. Few days later, they transferred to another ward because her brother, who was also incubated, was getting better and better. We slept under the patient’s bed. On our right was an oxygen tank. One night, while I was lying on the floor, I memorized the song entitled”Pretty Boy” by Britney Spears. I also saw one baby who died. I felt pity for her and her parents. Soon, my brother was out of the hospital.
My brother lasted for ten months. He died….I was very sad that time. I kept on asking my mother and my father to have a younger sibling. God has given me one but for a short time only. He took my brother early. Even if I don’t want that to happen, God has a reason why he took the life of my younger brother.
I remembered my first communion. Some of my friends were very nice to look at in their white dresses (just like me).
I also remembered the cheating time. When we have some assignments that are very hard to answer, we are copying each others work.
Suddenly those things ended in the Graduation Day. As I was walking through the lobby of Abellana National High School (our graduation was held there), I knew that my elementary years will end. I passed through the stage and shook my hand with Mr. Oliva. After that, is the singing of our graduation song.
“…….I won’t let the darkness in. What a journey it has been”

Everything has a reason....

Did you ever wanted to commit suicide because of your problems? Do you want to die now because of the trials that you are facing in life? Or do you blame God because He has taken a member of your family even you do not want to loose him or her?

Rev. Fr. Loloy Jumauan, a priest in the St. Joseph Parish, told us in the reflection that there was once a mother who was a devotee of St. Joseph. In every feast, she will pray the “novena” and the rosary for nine days (we all know that celebrating a feast of a saint lasts nine days.).

During the next year’s feast, again, her second son died. She did not blame God about it. But on the next year’s feast, her third son died. On that very day, she decided not to pray the novena and rosary in every feast of St. Joseph anymore because she thought that she became unlucky in praying for the said saint. That night, she had a dream. In her dream, an angel appeared to her. The angel introduced his name as Joseph. He told her not to stop in praying for him because of what happened to her three sons. He told her that the eldest son will commit suicide because of too much problems he encounter in life, the second son will be addicted to drugs and will be put into prison, and the third son would be crazy so he let them die so that their mother will have lesser things to worry and their mother cannot survive seeing the three in bad condition.

How amazing! I have realized that the saints and the angels, even God, love us very much. God even gave his own son to save us from our punishment because we have sinned. Now I know that I am poor because I have realized that every situation has a reason.

I have also researched in the internet and have read the story about the two traveling angels. It has a nice message. The two angels stopped to spend a night in a home of a wealthy family. The rude family refused to let them sleep in the guest room and instead they slept in a cold basement. The older angel saw a hole in the basement so he repaired it. The next day, the angels stopped in a home of a poor but hospitable family. When the sun came up, they have found out that the father’s cow died. The younger angel asked the older ones, “why have you helped the first family yet they have everything but in the second family, you let the cow die? They are willing to share everything even if they have only a little. They are not like the first family”.

The older angel said that on the basement, there were some gold bars hidden at the back of the hole so he repaired it. He did it because if the rude family would see the hidden treasure, they would be greedier. In the second family, the angel of death is supposed to take the life of the wife but he gave the cow instead.

See? We always complain about things especially those people who are not contented of what they have. All you need is just to believe that what the outcome will be your advantage. We just do not know. Maybe you will encounter it later….

.

What a UP student is Not ?

University of the Philippines High School in Cebu is a school for the poor but deserving students. They are giving quality education to them. They are also teaching them the good characteristics that UP student must possess.

That is why UP students are often regarded by other people as intelligent, responsible and outspoken students.

One time the student council had presented a presentation about the attitude of a UP student. They compared that presentation to the movie, “First Day High”.

Up students are brainy in a way that, they are NOT showoff nut they are confident to show their skills. The members of the Glee Club, for example, present something in and outside the school in order to show to the world that they are blessed with good voices. The jazzers give their best I dancing gracefully in order to show to the people that they are talented. Some students also join quiz bee to show that they are capable of joining such a quiz bee. They are also intelligent enough to answer those questions which are asked in the quiz bee.

Up students are MVPs (Most Valuable Players) in a way that they are NOT only up to academics but they are also good in sports. For example, Stacey she is a consistent honor student yet she often plays volleyball. I think she is addicted with it. She is the Captain Ball of the Volleyball Team (girls).Mc Cherry is another example. She is also a consistent honor student and the best thing is, she is a scrabble player. She is also a good adviser. Liezl Ann Sumagaysay is a consistent honor student. She is a math whiz, a chess whiz and all the whiz in the world. Rowela, like Stacey, is a consistent honor student. She is also a member of the Volleyball Team (girls). Hazel is an honor student. She is very cheerful. She is a good badminton player. Rachel, like all of the students mentioned, is an honor student.. Like Hazel, she is a good badminton player. In fact, I want to be like Hazel and Rachel because I want to have more knowledge and improve my skills I badminton. I also want to be an honor student.

UP students are nice guys in a way that they are neither snobbish nor boastful but they are friendly and humble. We, UP students, for your information, have at least one club. The faculty and staffs required this for the students to develop their confidence to mingle with other people and meet friends. I am a member of the Campus Ministry. One thing that I have benefited with it is that I can approach people and good friends I times of need. I know that they will help me, for sure.

UP students are sossy in a way that they are NOT selfish, they are willing to share what they have to those people who are in need. I had an experience when I had no baon. Some students really shared to me the extra food that they have.

Lastly, UP students are rebellious. They are outspoken but they are NOT rude. They know how to respect other people’s opinion but if it destroys their reputation, they express what they feel in a form of a rally because of what I have said, they are outspoken.

Once again, UP students are not only up to academics, not snobbish, not boastful, not showoffs, not selfish, and not rude.

What else can you think about what a UP student is not?

Badminton

What is your favorite sport? Is it badminton?

If you will ask me, my answer is maybe because I am confused about what my favorite sport is. It may be badminton or patintero but in fairness, I am starting to like badminton..

In our Physical Education class, our main lesson is about badminton. We are assigned to find a partner. And guess who my partner is…. I will give you a hint; She is the most beautiful girl in our section. She is Kristie Malenn Auxilio . Although it is the first time for me in playing the game, she teaches me the techniques in playing the game.

She is very understanding. She understands if I have failures especially in serving. She encourages me to smash harder. Even if I have only a few friends, I was very glad when she made the first move in choosing me as a partner. Let me tell you a little bit about her. As far as I know, she is cheerful. She is also kind and she is nice to be with. Sometimes, it takes a few seconds for her to understand what we are talking about. That’s what you call ….LOADING (Pentium Seven)... Whatever! She also keeps promises. Long ago, I asked her to give me a key chain. And just this Christmas, She gave me one. She enclosed it in a wallet (she is my manita).

Let us discuss about the sport. I have learned the forehand serve. Whew! So far, it is not easy. I am having a hard time doing it because it is hard for me to do so. Anyway, Kristie is teaching me and is still encouraging me to do it better.

Unlike the forehand serve, the backhand serve is very easy. Actually, I got a perfect score in our practical test.

Even though I don’t like the forehand serve, I am often using it to be used in serving that kind if serve.

Miss Maquilan, our teacher in Physical Education class, taught us the singles and the doubles game I saw Hazel playing with Miss Maquilan. I want the way she smashes the shuttlecock because you cannot see the effort that she is applying to it .By the way, Hazel is a good badminton player that is why Miss Maquilan chose her as her opponent In fairness, Miss Maquilan is also good in playing the game. I had a dream in becoming a good badminton player someday. If I want to pursue my dream, I can really be one. But first, I should learn the skills and techniques in playing it. Second, I should apply them. Maybe I will often play the game this summer because there is only one meeting in our Physical Education class each week. And before that, I should put in mind that it is the fourth grading period. I should study hard in order to pass in all the subjects or else… I will have a B.S. (Back Subject)…. hu….hu…hu… I will have badminton as my goal. In order to reach that goal, I should follow the steps in achieving them. Those steps are listed in the book of hope, given to me by a crew of the oldest and the only floating bookshop in the universe, the MV Doulos.

I should apply some brain power. I should think what I to get my goal.I need should find a coach. Well, no need to do it. There is one person who is going to help me. That person is Kristie. Then I should never give up.

Do you have a goal? Let us fulfill it together…

She...

On April 25, 1992, seven o’ clock, a baby girl was born. Her parents are Erlinda Naraja and Bonifacio Tañola. They named her Vernie. Vernie was born in St. Vincent General hospital, in the province of Cebu. She grew and became a better person. Of course, she became like that because of her parents. They filled her with love and care. They taught her some good characteristics that a good person must possess. And because her parents are Filipino citizens, she is also a Filipino. She lives at 661 Holy Name St. Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines.

She is now fourteen years of age. She is studying at the University of the Philippines. She belongs to section Villamor when she is still in her first year level. Now that she is second year high school, she belongs to section Benton. Her adviser is Mme. Ma. Chona Kerr. Her adviser is one of the most beautiful teachers in the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu. Vernie studies hard, as hard as she can, in order to help her parents and in order to full fill her dreams of becoming a flight stewardess or an astronomer someday.

I have the list of her favorites. Her favorite foods are fish and beans. Although she wants paksiw, she will prefer to eat beans. She also likes banana cue, especially when it is sold at Manang Liza’s store, because it is very delicious. Her favorite fruit is jack fruit. She likes to eat it when it is juicy. She had a great time eating it with her parents before. They will also cook the fruit’s seed. Her favorite desserts are ice cream and fruit salad. She likes to eat sweets especially chocolates.

Her favorite show is Princess Hours. She likes to watch eat every night but unfortunately, it will start at ten and finishes at eleven so she cannot watch. You will ask why? Hello! There are classes the day after! Sometimes she will find time to watch it because she does not want to miss every episode of it. Her favorite actor is Orlando Bloom. She started to like him in the movie entitled “The Lord of the Rings” and then succeeded by the movie” The Kingdom of Heaven. Her favorite actress is Catherine Zeta-Jones. She likes her part in the movie “The Legend of Zorro”. Her favorite girl cartoon character is Hitomi of “Vision of Escaflowne”. Hitomi has this extra ordinary talent that she can predict and change the future by using extraordinary cards. This kind of talent will bring her to another world where she is mostly needed. There, many individuals will fight over Hitomi but they will be defeated by her two knights and shining armor, Van and Alen. The two gentle men will also fight over the heart of Hitomi. Who will win her heart? Watch “Vision of Escaflowne” every morning at channel twenty seven. Her favorite boy cartoon character is Ryoma Echizen. She likes her talent in playing tennis. And because he is good in playing the said game, he is recognized to as the ”Prince of Tennis”.

Some of her hobbies are Chatting with her friends and watching TV. She also likes to play her favorite sport, Patintero. In their Physical Education classes their main topic is about badminton. Who knows her favorite sport will change from patitero to badminton. Her past time is listening to the music. Her favorite local band is the Missing Filemon. Her favorite national band is the Eraserheads. Her favorite international band is the West Life. Her favorite song is the “Huling El Bimbo” of the Eraserheads. She likes to read some books especially novels and Nancy Drew Mysteries.

She likes to stay in a quite place. It may be in the school or in a garden. Her favorite country is the Philippines. It is an archipelago that is why there are many sea creatures found in the area. She loves to see the fishes swimming. She also loves to see the corals in their glowing colors.

Her favorite day is Saturday because in that day, there are fewer things which she has to worry compared to the other days of the week. She likes things that are colored pink because it is her favorite color. She also likes t have a bird, as a pet, in their house.

She is still that simple yet loving and caring girl. ….It’s me, Vernie