Neither "Dutertards" nor "Yellowtards," but Filipinos

In the 2016 Philippine election, there were 15.9 million Filipino voters (36.7%) who were neither "Dutertards" (16.6 million who voted for Duterte) nor "Yellowtards" (9.9 million who voted for Roxas). The election was not only between these two camps. However, the post election discussions of national issues in social media were framed into binary, either pro- and anti-government. The anti-government discussions are labeled as coming from "Yellowtards." Those who staunchly protect and support the government are called "Dutertards."

The election is over, yet the fever associated with election has stayed. It is even more intense and brutal. The country is getting more and more deeply divided. It is easy to be swayed by information that is agreeable to one's preconceived idea. To deepen the divide, many fake news sites (mainly pro-Duterte) emerge to inflame negative sentiments towards those on the other side (mainly Liberal Party members). Worse, many people believe and share in social media stories from these fake news sites.

How can we get out of this spiraling fever that is self-inflicted?

I have no answer to this question. But we can attempt to step back and refuse to dwell on the temptation of mudslinging that we do not anymore recognize the persons on the other side. The biggest challenge is to belong to certain parties or ideologies or camps, but without dehumanizing those not with us.

In all of us, we are neither Dutertards nor Yellowtards; but all Filipinos, inclusive and compassionate. Let us not allow the 2016 election fever turn into an epidemic. Let us get a national relief from this feverish divide. Let us start talking again as persons with differences. Let us just talk and listen to each other. Come on, let's do this.

Facts on Drug Use in the Philippines: Releasing some air of the inflated problem

President Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippine presidency in a campaign focused on suppressing illegal drugs and crimes in six months. Since he assumed office on July 1, there have been unabated cases of extra-judicial killings concurrent with the government's war on drugs. Based on the testimony of Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald de la Rosa, in almost two months in his office (as of August 15), there are 1,564 suspects who got killed . Of these, 665 suspects were killed in police operations, and 899 cases were possibly done by vigilante groups. These figures came out during the Senate's probe on extra-judicial killings.

Each day there have been 34 Filipinos suspected of drug use and dealing being killed since Duterte came to power. One of the victims is Jefferson Bunuan, a criminology student who wanted to become a policeman, was shot by the police while asleep. Another victim is Rowena Tiamson, a graduating honor student, was found dead with her hands tied and a cardboard sign near her lifeless body: Huwag tularan, pusher (Don't emulate, drug pusher).

https://medium.com/@sampaguitanation/justice-for-rowena-reaping-what-we-sow-from-the-philippine-war-on-drugs-4560d3128837#.nd50fe5bf

President Duterte has claimed that drugs are destroying his country. His war on drugs is his way of showing his love and commitment to his country.

We can ask then, to what extent drugs are destroying Duterte's country (our country too)? Let's look at the statistics and the 2016 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

In 2012, the Office of the President's Dangerous Drugs Board put the estimated numbers of drug users in the Philippines to 1.3 million. (In 2012, the Philippine population was 96.71 million; so the prevalence of drug use among the population was 1.3 percent). This figure is higher than the 600,000 drug users who "surrendered to authorities" since the launch of war on drugs.

Is this figure high enough to merit a war that is killing 34 people a day? Let's compare the Philippine data with other countries.

The Philippines is not ranked in the top 10 among the "most drug addicted countries in the world." Based on the 2012 UNDOC World Drug Report and Global Drug Survey, the top ten countries, from bottom to top, are Mexico with 3.9% prevalence, Brazil (4.3%), United States (6.2%), Canada (6.4%), Afghanistan (6.9%), Russia (7.1%), Slovakia (13.01%), France (13.02%), United Kingdom (13.65%), and the top, Iran (14.32%). With 1.3 % drug use prevalence among the population, the Philippines may not even be in top 30 countries with massive drug use.

In the latest World Drug Report (2016) by UNODC, the Philippines is mentioned seven (7 times). In those instances, the country is in no way worse than other countries. For example, in the map showing the trafficking flows of cocaine, the Philippines is not cited as the source or hub in the region. In the region, the report indicates that the often mentioned origin, departure, and transit of cocaine is Thailand, followed by Malaysia.

I recognize that drug use is a problem. But should this problem be solved by killing 34 Filipinos a day? Or are we creating a monstrous problem here?

As Filipinos, we can all be potential victims of these state-sanctioned killings in the name of war on drugs. Let the killings be stopped; let the rule of law be followed. Let humanity reign.

POE is my president (2)

When I wrote POE on the ballot, I held to these good things about her and her campaign.

1) She is running independent. This is unprecedented in the national campaign for a leading candidate to run without a political party. She said that her political party is the people. However, major (e.g. NPC) and minor (e.g. Aksyon Democratico) political parties have endorsed her, but she has remained an independent candidate. She is also not from a political dynasty.

2) She has gone back home and offered herself to the people. Most OFWs and those who have been away for quite some time from their homeland could only wish they could do the same. She has the courage and patriotism to leap into the den of "dirty" politics in her desire to help change and improve the system by elevating the political discourse to real issues and alternatives, and not personalities and negative campaigning.

3) She is young and energetic. She exudes good and creative vibes. I would always go for new and innovative ideas from young people, rather stick to old and traditional ways of doing things in government. The country needs a fresh air to clear its dirty lungs and bureaucratic nerves of governance. This is not simply change, but meaningful change for the country.

4) She is inexperienced in the style of governance that does not deliver and is not accountable to the people. That's why her campaign is centered on having a government with heart (Gobyernong may puso).

5) She is a woman and a mother. She represents women who have yet to enjoy full and equal rights with men. This is also my vision for our country to have equal rights for everyone. Working hard is a natural trait of any mother. I've seen my mother in her.

6) She knows well and is articulate about national issues. In the presidential debates, she used statistics and data to show her grasp of realities facing our country. Any sound executive decisions must be based on evidences to avoid egoistic, whimsical and capricious decisions.

7) She is a unifying leader. She gets support from every sector of the population. Coming from one of those sectors, OFWs, I support POE for president.

POE is my president (1)

When I voted yesterday at the embassy, the last position that I filled in was president. Eventually, I wrote POE.

What made me pause to write POE on the ballot for President was the presence of pressing issues hounding her candidacy. I would tell you how I was able to settle those issues.

1) Her loyalty and her being a Filipino are being questioned for renouncing her Filipino citizenship to become a US citizen. Their question is valid. However, the main reason why she became US citizen was due to her family. How could anyone be more Filipino than doing anything for one's family? Loyalty to one's country is not measured by simply staying in the country and being Filipino on paper. As an example, OFWs who have been separated from the Philippines, I observe, are the most passionate about the country. Their identification with their country becomes more pronounced because of the disconnect of their foreign surrounding with their identity. I personally experienced this in the past 8 years where I lived abroad for studies and now for work. I would say, the patriotic fervor of OFWs and people who experienced being away from their homeland is further amplified. Because of their exposure to foreign cultures, they even become more optimistic and hopeful of their country's future. Having lived abroad, POE has returned to her homeland with greater patriotic zeal offering her service to Filipinos. Besides, the Supreme Court decided in her favor regarding her being a natural-born Filipino because of R.A. 9225 or Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.

2) Her inexperience in public service is underscored. For me, this means that she is an outsider of a broken and malfunctioning political system that we have. New and innovative ideas are what she brings to her leadership, rather than old and traditional ways and means of seasoned politicians.

3) Her alleged connection with Danding Cojuangco because of NPC's endorsement and use of SMC's helicopter for a discounted price (not free) is a mole in the face of her campaign. For me, this is an overblown, overhyped, over-extended and hypocritical issue. I recall that all presidential candidates wooed NPC's support. When POE got it, then some people made an issue out of it. On the use of SMC's helicopter, SMC itself issued a statement saying that there are also candidates who use its helicopters. Her husband working in SMC is a non-issue for me. There are news reports saying that she defended Danding about coco levy fund. She did not defend Danding on coco levy fund. What she said what that Danding has no more control of the fund because it is now with the government. If it sounds in defense of Danding, I do not see it that way.

These are some major issues that I considered and settled in voting for POE as president.

The next post will be an enumeration of strong points why POE is my president.

My vote

I write this not to influence your vote, but to encourage you to consider enumerating what you value and what you want to see in our incoming government. I value transparency and good governance; a government that leads an example of transparency, fights corruption and delivers efficient public service. I value compassion; a government that understands and acts on our problems and issues. I value non-violence; a government that does not use violence to achieve peace and order and that upholds human rights. I want to see reconciliation in and healing of our fragmented country after this polarizing election.

Kaya, an voto ko PoeRo!

Early today, I voted at the embassy in Den Haag. It was a good and sunny day, a rarity in the Netherlands.

I voted for two mothers. Imagine two mothers taking care and looking after the welfare and interests of their children.Imagine how they do their best to protect and stand for their children. Imagine how they prudently spend our money. Imagine how they are willing to sacrifice for the sake of their children. Imagine how they attach their future with their children's. Imagine how they own and share the dreams, joys and struggles of their children. Imagine. These are natural to them. For six years, we will have twice the power, genuine love and service of a mother in our government.

I voted for good governance and against political dynasty. I believe PoeRo is a tandem that will serve the country without a view and tendency of clinging to power. No family members of PoeRo are simultaneously running for elective positions.

I voted for the future. This election has evoked so much indignation, frustration, deception and fear. I believe PoeRo will ease these negative feelings and sentiments that are prevailing in the hearts of many of us. I believe PoeRo will replace these negativities with hope, compassion, sincerity and genuine openness to listen to the people. They have been exemplary in positive campaigning. After this election, I believe their government can be unifying.

I voted Poe for President and Robredo for Vice-President!

I pray that your vote is grounded on your values and vision for the country, at least for the coming six years.

Some views on the Philippine Election 2016

If I claim to be incorruptible and if someone says that I have huge amount of money in a specific bank, I will stand by my claim. I will not simply dismiss the accusation and say that the account is non-existent, but I will show that it is indeed non-existent. I will not approximate its amount, because it is my money, so I know how much it is and where it comes from. I will not call a lawyer because I know my rights. It will not take me few days just to show how incorruptible I am. It will take only few minutes to clear my name on this issue. If I am unable to do this, believe me, I am not what I claim to be. I am not who I say I am.


As a Bicolano, I take offense at this generalizing remark from a man who barely has an idea who we are as a people (not a race). Yes, we are honorable. That's why we are known to pursue vigorously what we believe in against all odds and popular sentiments. We stand by our words, and not take them back whimsically. Now, Mayor you will see what honorable truly means with or against a Bicolano. Yan an oragon! (Actually, you sought the legal help of another Bicolano to face against a fellow Bicolano on Monday, May 2 because probably you seem to be not honorable enough to man up your words when you yourself is a lawyer.) 


Just asking. How do you envision his presidency? Based on his words: He will kill those involved in drugs and crimes in a bloody war. That means a lot of violence. He will return to manual system of governmental transactions. That means backlogs, inefficiencies and susceptibility to corruption. He will abolish Congress if threatened impeachment. That means he will concentrate executive and legislative powers into his hands. He will establish a revolutionary government. That means he has more powers and less accountability, if any. He will sever ties to countries that say something against him. That means Philippines is likely to be isolated in international arena. Indeed, this is change. Do you envision it differently? 



Mayor, I understand if you want to make it difficult for Sen. Trillanes. But the issue is not only between you and Sen. Trillanes. You aspire to be my president. I want my president to be transparent, decisive and inspiring. I still believe you are. So please, do not disappoint me on Monday, May 2. I want to know and I deserve to know what you had, and currently have in your BPI bank accounts. Please. I believe that history is on our side. But I don't want to be on the wrong side. On May 2, Monday, I want to see you speak the truth, not your lawyer, because my president is transparent, decisive and inspiring. Thank you, Mayor. Do not let me down! I am waiting for my president to come out clean on this issue!


What kind of change are we expecting from a man who uses old tactics to keep his unexplained wealth away from the public that he vows to serve? Still more days to reflect on a candidate who vows to stop corruption, but refuses to be transparent. How can we who hate corruption help him stop corruption if he himself is not leading a clean and good example. Let us remember that one of the things that makes us love him is when he declares: "hindi ko pakikialaman ang pera nyo." We cheered! Few more days... few more day... let us see whether he is the man we used to know, whether he is the man we want to lead our country.


A specific amount in a particular bank branch with certain dates!!! It must be a joke! And I laughed when I read Sen. Cayetano's statement which is very similar to the statements of the spokesperson and lawyers of Binay during the Senate's investigation of Binay's alleged ill-gotten wealth. 


"It is possible for a Filipino to be separated from the Philippines, but not the Philippines from a Filipino." As an OFW, I hear you Poe!


Finally, after two emails and a phone call to the embassy, I can now exercise suffrage (right to vote). I am still undecided; that's why I truly need this 3rd Presidential Debate to help me discern who deserves my sacred vote. So far, I am down to two candidates who, in the past debates, showed their grasp of what's going on by citing statistics and data on sectoral issues. To me, if a candidate does not know what's going on, s/he can't make a sound decision for the national interest. If s/he does not know what's going on, her/his decisions may be to satisfy one's ego or driven by impulsive whims or capricious humor. So far, it's between Poe and Roxas for my sacred vote. After this debate, I will break down my decision why I will vote for either Poe or Roxas.

Introductory Note on some LGBT Issues: An Informal Discussion

Last Friday, when I received a letter informing me to make this introductory input, I asked myself: 

why me? For some of you here, this issue is personal. Let me not take away anything from you by 

writing this.

My unassuming question - “why me?” stems from my unarticulated view on the issue. Well, allow 

me to articulate for the first time my view by sharing some of my stories. My apology if I limit my 

writing about “bakla.” 

When I was in elementary, I had a classmate who was “different” from us. The class called him 

“bakla.” While he was not accepted to join some of the boy’s games, because he was a bit slow and 

soft, he was not totally welcome to join girl’s games because he was a bit fast and and hard. He 

would end up on the sideline watching all of us playing and having fun. Speaking of fun, the class 

had a lot of it at his expense. When he reacted to taunting and teasing, the more he would receive 

those until he could not take them anymore and he would cry. For some reasons, his cry was a sound of triumph for the class. 

So why me when I don’t have this kind of experience?

More often, LGBTs are portrayed as victims of many things, such as discrimination and hate crimes. The circumstances surrounding victimization are understood as overwhelming social force of 

morality and normalcy. They are not understood as inhibition of agency of the victim. I would like to deviate from the perspective of having them as victims. I would not ask you to put your feet in their 

shoes, rather I would like you to focus on many of “us,” and on “that elementary class” not different 

from us. May I ask then, do we see LGBTs through a privileged lens and position? Do we feel that 

we are entitled to see them this way? Where do we derive this entitlement?

When I was in all-boys high school, there was an unwritten rule of assignment of sports. Smart boys played chess; tall 

boys played basketball; agile boys played football; and not-so boys played volleyball. You could probably guess what sports I played........ basketball for some 

reasons. There was this overpowering pre-existing categories with which we simply needed to conform. In high school, that was the reality we 

confronted. And now, we know better. Reality is much more than those simple categories. It’s 

complex that we can hardly simplify its complexities. It’s diverse that we can barely mask its 

diversities. Everyday, differences abound, uncertainties arise, and contradictions and antagonisms 

emerge all around us. It is not only an issue of language, of religion, of gender, of representation. 

More than these, it is an issue of privilege, of entitlement. C. Wright Mills (1959) writes, “An issue is a public matter: some value cherished by publics is felt threatened.” 

Let’s take, for example, marriage. For believers, marriage is highly valued and cherished. They have 

internalized and immortalized its spirit in their practice of marriage between a man and woman. Any other arrangement is an issue for them. But will they become less of a believer if this “sacred” 

arrangement is bestowed outside of the valued arrangement, that is to same-sex couple? If believers agree that marriage is good to build a family, why not open it to all? This can be a good subject for this discussion. Twelve years ago, Ateneo high school accepted its first female students. It was difficult for many alumni to accept that their cherished all-boys institution would be no more. The question then was, did Ateneo high school become less of an Ateneo when it opened its doors to girls? Because Ateneo believed that it offers a good education, 

why not open it to all? The issue here may be described to have one side trying to cling to the

 glorified past, while the other on the painful present onto a glorious future. Now, after 12 years, we 

hardly look back at that debate.

For fun, one of my organizations had an all-male beauty pageant when I was in college. We acted as beautiful contestants, mimicking popular 

actresses and singers. As we know, Ms. Gay contests have been perennial feature of fiestas. In her 

description of Ms. Gay Naga City contest as provider of high taste and entertainment, Fenella Cannell (1999, 223) describes, in part, a “reputation of bakla as ‘artistic’ and ‘artificial.’” I would delve on 

the latter reputation of bakla. There is a recognition that what we see in bakla, either on or out of 

stage, is “fake” and therefore not real. The imitation and mimicry in exaggerated forms are 

ephemeral expressions of their “identity.” For many of us, the “presentation of self,” as Goffman 

would point out, by bakla is intended for an audience. Thus the presentation is thought to end 

somehow and eventually return to the real self. But who is the real self of a bakla? During Cannell’s 

fieldwork, many contestants then copied Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Madonna, to name a few. All of these names were women. Now, there is a shift in the object of copying. I’ve observed that 

many bakla would imitate Vice Ganda, a bakla too. There is now a emergent sense of authenticity of “identity, ” not anymore a copycat of real women, but bakla “identity.”

In hierarchical society such as ours, where do we situate this bakla identity in the structures of power relations with pre-existing identities?

In the end, why me? Well like most of you, I also seek greater understanding of this issue. Let us then start the discussion.

Political Analysis Course Outline: First Semester 2015-2016

Department of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ateneo de Naga University

PSCM363: Introduction to Political Analysis         Consultation hours: MWF (3:30-5:30PM)

First semester, SY 2015-2016          Menandro S. Abanes 

Course description and outline

Society does not explain itself, nor does it examine and interpret its events. Those tasks are taken up by 
students of society like you and me. They are no easy tasks. But in our efforts to achieve the tasks, we are 
aided by various research methods developed by researchers who have studied society. 

This course focuses on methods and practices of social research. It aims to prepare and motivate 
students to complete their requirement of a thesis proposal. It introduces a menu of research methods for possible use in making a defensible thesis proposal. 

I. Practice of social research

A. Doing research

Ø Key concepts: research process, inductive, deductive

Ø Reading: How to design a research project by Earl Babbie (pp. 107-113) in The Practice of Social Research

B. Purposes of research and units of analysis

Ø Key concepts: types of research, descriptive, explanatory, time dimension

Ø Reading: Research design by Earl Babbie (pp. 90-106) in The Practice of Social Research

   C. Researching for what?

Ø Key concepts: values, advocacy

Ø Readings: The case for value-free sociology by Max Weber (pp. 23-25) and Whose side are we on? by Howard Becker (pp. 26-29) in Seeing ourselves edited by Macionis and Benokraitis

   D. What’s your problem?

Ø Key concepts: causation, patterns, research problem

Ø Reading: The idea of causation in social research by Earl Babbie (pp. 69-86) in The Practice of Social Research

  E. Conceptualizing the research

Ø Key concepts: research proposal, research problem, framework

Ø Reading: Conceptualizing the research by Wilfredo Arce (pp. 11-21) in The Systematic Qualitative Data Research

  F. Resolving your problem

Ø  Key concepts: theory, framework, hypothesis

Ø Reading: Look before you leap: Some reflections on hypothesis formulation in the social sciences by Michael Costello (pp. 26-36) and What is a theory? 

Additional reading: Why is my evil lecturer forcing me to learn statistics? by Andy Field (pp.  1-15) in Discovering Statistics using SPSS

II. Research processes and methods

A. To be or not to be: quantitative or qualitative?

Ø Key concepts: debate, nature of data

Ø Reading: The debate about quantitative and qualitative research by Alan Bryman (pp. 93-126) in Quantity and Quality in Social Research

B. Evaluative research

Ø Key concepts: program, project, evaluation, ex post-facto

Ø Reading: Of blackbirds and boxes: An introduction to evaluative research by Frank 
Lynch (pp. 174-182) in Philippine Society and the Individual

C.  Observational method

Ø Key concepts: social structure, qualitative

Ø Reading: Observational methods by William Foote Whyte (pp. 83-96) in Learning from the Field: A guide from experience

D.  Feminist research and life history

Ø Key concepts: feminist, perspective, case study, life history

Ø Reading: Understanding sexuality through life histories by Jeanne Illo (pp. 7-29)  

 E.  Conflict analysis

Ø Key concepts: conflict analysis, mining issues

Ø Reading: A conflict analysis of Rapu-Rapu mining issues by Menandro Abanes (pp. 150-157) in Southeast Asia Today: Development Paradigms, Reflexive Engagements

   F. Discourse analysis (critical)

Ø Key concepts: discourse analysis, development models

Ø Reading: People’s Organization (POs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the Catholic Church vs. the State and a 
Transnational Corporation (TNC): A Critical Discourse Analysis of Mining Issues in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1- 27) in Gibon, volume 5, 2005

   G. Survey research (descriptive)

Ø Key concepts: volunteering, measurement

Ø Reading: To be men and women for others: Measuring volunteering in Ateneo de Naga 
University by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1-64) in the University Research Council-funded research project

   H. Survey research (correlation and regression analyses)

Ø Key concepts: ethnicity, religion, social distance, trust, identification

Ø Reading: Ethno-religious groups, identification, trust and social distance in the ethno-religiously stratified Philippines by Menandro Abanes et al. (pp.61-75) in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2014.02.001)

Course Outline for SOC001: Bikol Society and Culture

Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Ateneo de Naga University

SOC 001: Society and culture with family planning          Consultation hours: TBA

First semester, SY 2014-2015                                                Menandro S. Abanes

Course description and outline

How do we see the world? How do we make sense of it? This course will introduce two disciplines, sociology and anthropology, which will help us in trying to understand humans who inhabit this world and their societies that structure it. We will learn sociological and anthropological perspectives which will locate our experiences of this world within the larger scale of society characterized by social structure and system. Through this course, we will be able to view familiar things in a new light, find new meanings in the old and new ways of doing things, and gain understanding and insight of the rapidly globalizing and changing world.

I.                    The discipline of sociology

A.      Introduction

Ø  Key concepts: sociological imagination, history and biography

Ø  Readings: The promise of sociology by C. Wright Mills (pp. 19-26) and Invitation to sociology by Peter Berger (pp. 3-7) in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

B.      Theoretical perspectives in sociology

Ø  Key concepts: functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism

Ø  Readings: Doing sociological research (pp. 27-30); The presentation of self by Erving Goffman (pp. 106-115) and The uses of poverty: The poor pay all by Herbert Gans (pp. 314-320) in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

Ø  Requirement: Newspaper clipping that shows any of the perspectives

II.                  The discipline of anthropology

A.      Culture: Why we do what we do

Ø  Key concepts: culture as learned and shared, material and non-material culture, components of culture (gestures, languages, values, etc.)

Ø  Reading: The cultural context of social life (pp. 69-71) and Body ritual among the Nacirema by Horace Miner (pp. 73-77) in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

B.      How culture is studied: Participant observation

Ø  Key concepts: fieldwork, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism

Ø  Reading: Street corner society by William Foote Whyte (pp. 59-67) in in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

III.                Research process and methods

A.      Human inquiry and research model

Ø  Key concepts: research model, surveys, experiments, data-gathering

Ø  Reading: How sociologists do research by James Henslin (pp. 31-42) in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

B.      Practice of research

Ø  Key concepts: theory, inductive, deductive, quantitative, qualitative

Ø  Reading: The role of theory in sociology by Janet Saltzman Chafetz (pp. 15-20) in Readings for introducing sociology (Ed.) Richard Larson and Ronald Knapp

Ø  Requirement: Participant observation on your own social group/neighborhood

IV.                Enculturation/socialization

A.      Social interaction and structure

Ø  Key concepts: agents of socialization, institutions, self-emergence

Ø  Reading: Town fiesta: An anthropologist’s view by Frank Lynch (pp. 219-236) in Philippine society and the individual

Ø  Requirement: A sociological paper written in one’s native language

B.      Family and kinship

Ø  Key concepts: family planning, marriage, kinship

Ø  Reading: The elemental Filipino family by Yen Makabenta http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/philippine_articles/elemental_family.html

C.      Deviance and control

Ø  Key concepts: breaching, norms, rules, labeling, anomie

Ø  Reading: Suicide by Emile Durkheim (pp. 125-131) in Readings for introducing sociology (Ed.) Richard Larson and Ronald Knapp

V.                  Stratification

A.      Sex and gender

Ø  Key concepts: identity, roles, social construction of gender

Ø  Reading: Fraternities and rape on campus by Patricia Martin and Robert Hummer (pp. 353-362)

B.      Class and inequality

Ø  Key concepts: status, power, social mobility, prestige, patron-client relations

Ø  Reading: Big and little people: Social class in the rural Philippines by Frank Lynch (pp. 104-111) in Philippine society and the individual

C.      Categorical differences (ethnicity and religion)

Ø  Key concepts: ethnicity, religion, social distance, trust, identification

Ø  Reading: Ethno-religious groups, identification, trust and social distance in the ethno-religiously stratified Philippines by Menandro Abanes et al. in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility

VI.                Social change

Ø  Key concepts: modernization, globalization, trends

Ø  Readings: The Mcdonaldization of society by George Ritzer (pp. 494-504) in Down to earth sociology (9^th Ed.) by James Henslin

Ø  Requirement: A research paper due on the final examination date