DADOL JEWIL A.
DEC. 15, 2025
HUM 101 (7:30- 8:30)
MR. APOSTOL
REFLECTION PAPER
(General)
When I signed up for HUM 101, I thought art was just stuff in museums or fancy
drawings only super-talented people could do. I really didn’t expect this class to completely
change how I see creativity, culture, and even myself. This paper is about my thoughts on
everything we covered: learning about Filipino art ideas, finding out about our culture,
looking at shapes and colors in art, the whole “soul making” thing, and, finally, making that
messy paper mache lantern. I want to show how all these lessons proved that art isn’t just nice
to look at, but it’s a super important way we show who we are, how tough we are, and how
we connect with each other.
We started the class by focusing on Filipino art ideas. Before this, my art knowledge
was mostly about Europe—like the Mona Lisa and all that. Learning concepts like “kapwa”
(meaning we are all connected) and “pakikiramdam” (being sensitive to others’ feelings) was
like finding a secret key. I realized Filipino art isn’t just about making things look good; it’s
about community and relationships.
This led right into talking about Philippine Art and Cultural Identity. Looking at old
stuff like banig mats and ancient fabrics, and then seeing modern works by people like
BenCab, was a heavy experience. I felt proud of my background, but also a bit bummed that I
hadn’t known any of this sooner. One thing that really hit me was realizing how colonization
broke up our art story. It made me wonder what else about my own identity I was missing.
This part of the course turned art from a textbook topic into a real, living story of who we are.
After the culture stuff, we got into the Elements and Principles of Art. At first, words
like line, shape, color, balance, and rhythm felt boring and too technical. But when we used
them to look at Filipino art, everything became clear.
I learned to see the flow and energy in an Amorsolo painting of a farm or the
organized chaos in a modern Manila art piece—it was like seeing the city’s craziness reflected
perfectly. This new vocabulary was awesome. Instead of just saying, “That painting is cool,” I
could say, “The way they used those bright, clashing colors makes you feel both conflict and
hope.” It gave me the tools to understand the secret code artists use to tell stories, making
every piece of art I saw after that way more interesting.
The biggest change in my thinking came with the module on Soul Making,
Improvisation, and Art Creation. The concept of “soul making” really stuck with me. Art
wasn’t about making a flawless thing; it was about finding yourself, healing, and making
meaning as you worked.
The focus on improvisation—using what you have, being flexible, and “making do”—
felt super Filipino. It connected our art to our history of being resilient and resourceful. I
started seeing improvisation not as a second-best option, but as a kind of superpower that
sparks real, honest expression. I even started applying this to my life, seeing challenges not as
problems, but as chances to get creative with solutions.
All these lessons came together when we made the Paper Mache Lantern. This was
where the reflecting became real work. It was messy and hard. My frame kept falling apart,
and the paste was incredibly gooey. I got so frustrated that I almost dumped my fancy design
idea.
Then, I remembered the lessons. I thought about those Filipino artists who work with
materials that aren’t perfect. I decided to improvise, making my design simpler and using
rippedup colored papers from old magazines to cover the lantern. That act of “making do”
became my own version of “soul making.” As I glued the layers, I thought about the layers of
history and identity we had talked about. My finished lantern, glowing inside, became a
symbol of the course: something fragile, built with care, meant to share light. It was more
than a class assignment; it was proof of my own growth.
My time in HUM 101 was a game-changer. I started out thinking art was something
far away, and I finished knowing it’s a fundamental part of being human and who I am
culturally. The class taught me that art is where ideas meet action, where history meets
personal stories, and where skill meets soul.
The things I learned—why culture matters, the language of visuals, the power of
creating— will help me in everything. I’ll look closer at street art or a new movie, and I’ll
approach any tough situation with a more creative mind. Most importantly, I learned that
creating art means joining a huge conversation with my community and my ancestors. My
main takeaway is this: Art isn’t a bonus; it’s like breathing life into our souls, both
individually and together. It’s how we understand where we’ve been, how we deal with today,
and how we imagine tomorrow. That’s the lasting light this class gave me.