“What it Means to be Filipino” (Looking for Juan) Class Activity

The UP Main Library’s art gallery (Bulwagan ng Dangal, ground floor, right side), is hosting over
100 paintings on “what it means to be Filipino.” The exhibit is from August 18 to September 17. I
would like us to take advantage of this rare exhibit, many banners of which are also placed
around the campus oval showing some of the paintings. Since being Filipino is a major motif of
our course, I would like us to experience the exhibit in a meaningful way. We will do this
individually as well as in our designated small groupings. Details of the exhibit are on the poster
attached.

Individual Activity:
1. On your own, view the exhibit within the next 2 weeks (August 23 to September 5).
2. Choose your “top 3 favorites” and make notes of what they mean to you, a brief
description of the pictures, and then also 3 paintings which you don’t like, or which you
don’t understand, or whose depiction you disagree, or questions you may have to
clarify. Also write your notes there.
3. For note-taking, take pictures (if allowed), or go to the Internet, go to the homepage of
the sponsor (Canvass), and cut and paste some of these pictures.
4. Write an initial draft of 1,500 words on your interpretation of what it means to be
Filipino based on the six paintings and where you “insert” yourself in the big picture.
5. You need to have a controlling idea, thesis, or main argument, providing supporting
details, and using at least 7 external academic articles or books of which you quote,
summarize or paraphrase in support of your ideas. A bibliography must be written at
the end of the essay. This essay must be in Word, not pdf, so that they are editable.
6. The essay must be turned in to me by September 18 (Wednesday) via email.
7. Your essay must also be turned in to your designated small-group members by the same
date.

Group Activity:
1. After you receive your small group’s essays (4, or 5 of them, depending), review
individually to weigh them as to their rhetorical strengths, questions to clarify, points
for improvement, etc.
2. Also review the mechanics (grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice, etc.) and
insert these into your editable copy with highlights, or review or notes interface.
3. Thus, your feedback is of two parts: summary of the rhetorical strengths, questions, etc.
and a revised or edited copy on the review page.
4. Turn this in to me and the group members by September 26 (Wednesday).
5. We will discuss in small groups sometime on the first week of October. Bring your
electronic copies with your devices.
6. By October 17, you will have revised your paper based on your classmates’ feedback
and me and will be included in your portfolio.
7. You may also, as an option for your group, use the exhibit’s paintings and your
collective reviews as the final project or photographic essay.