2. 02Salvador P. Lopez
• born in Currimao, Ilocos Norte
• was an Ilokano writer
• journalist, educator, diplomat, and statesman.
• studied at the University of the Philippines and obtained a
Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1931 and a Master of Arts
degree, also in philosophy, in 1933.
• During his UP days, he became a drama critic for the Philippine
Collegian and was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.
3. 02Salvador P. Lopez
• From 1933 to 1936, he taught literature and journalism at
the University of Manila.
• He also became a daily columnist and magazine editor of the
Philippine Herald until World War 2.
• In 1940, Lopez' essay "Literature and Society" won in the
Commonwealth Literary Awards.
• He was appointed by President Diosdado Macapagal as
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and was ambassador to the United
Nations for six years before reassigned to France for seven years.
4. 02Salvador P. Lopez
• Lopez was the president of the University of the Philippines from
1969 to 1975.
• And he established a system of democratic consultation in which
decisions such as promotions and appointments were made
through greater participation by the faculty and administrative
personnel; he also reorganized U.P. into the U.P. System.
6. 03
Poverty is nothing new to our ever-changing
society. It is something that has been facing many
families and, unfortunately, will continue to do so
for many future generations to come. There has
been an ongoing debate as to whose responsibility
poverty really is.
7. 04
Some would believe it lies in the hands of society as a whole,
while others refute it is the problem of the people in that social
class. For those that believe that society should carry the
burden of responsibility, there are many government
assistance and non-profit organizations in place to do just this.
These organizations, both at the public and private level, are
available to aid individuals in need of food, clothing, and
shelter.
8. 05
Most individuals would even argue that society is not doing
enough for its poverty stricken people. However, even in our
bad economic times, most of these programs are still
providing for those in need. On the contrary, some
would argue that it is the individual's responsibilities to step
up to the plate and help themselves. Many believe that
relying on welfare and other forms of assistants keeps the
individual from lifting themselves up out of poverty.
9. 05
It is in my opinion that, while poverty may not be a lifestyle
of choice, the responsibility ultimately lies in the hands of
the individuals themselves, not our society as a whole. It
has been shown that children who grow up in households
that receive welfare are more likely to continue receiving
welfare, as they become adults themselves (Eshleman &
Bulcroft, 2006).
10. 05
These welfare recipients show certain personality traits
that can be responsible for keeping them in poverty and on
continued public assistance. They have a tendency to blame
others for their situation, have a low motivation level, and can
suffer from an inferiority complex (Smith, 1989). A lack
of motivation would keep individuals like this from seeking out
ways of increasing their level of education or to even seek out
employment
12. 05The Essay Analysis
Culture is the sum total of the ideas,
customs, skills, religion, arts and way of
life of a people in a given period of
civilization. These ideas and customs become
the source of the principles and values by
which the people live. Transmitted to the
next generation, some customs continue to
influence the day-to-day affairs of certain
people. Others, however, through time have
been evaluated, revised, and even enriched.
13. 05
The essay, The Problems of Our Culture ,
was written during the Japanese Occupation
by Salvador Ponce Lopez. According to
Lopez, culture denotes the sum total of
nation’s achievements in art, religion,
science, and letters; their philosophy and
way of life; the ideals and
instrumentalities by which they live. Our
culture is the continuity of our
traditional life. Thus, it is considered
the backbone of our being a Filipino
14. 05
It was mentioned in the essay that Filipino
culture is the product of crossbreeding. Our
ancestors who first came to these shores were
a breed of men far different from their
offspring and absorbed generous doses of
different cultures. In other words, we what
we are today by the historical events that
happened before
15. 05
The author emphasizes that hybridization of
our culture produced a positive effects. We
gained a lot more than what we lost.
According to Lopez, with the cultural
hybridization, we lost the animistic faith
of our pagan forefathers. We lost the slave
system of social organization and the
tribal system of government of the petty
chiefs and kings.
16. 05
The essay also sought to induce Filipinos
to rediscover the cultural identity. First,
develop a new market for the Philippine
products in Asia. Second, the movement to
Filipinize the personnel of the schools and
the content of instruction. Next, the
movement to Filipinize the clergy by
elevating Filipinos to positions of rank
and responsibility in the hierarchy of the
Chrurch.
17. 05
Also, the adoption of Tagalog as the
national language and as a compulsory
subject in all Philippine schools. All
these according to Lopez bespoke a nation
beginning earnestly to turn inward upon
itself, seeking in the depths of its own
soul treasures it had long neglected.