MOISES CALASTRAVO JOEWARD REYES RICHARD JAY AGTANG BS in Accountancy IV 1. History will absolve me.

- Fidel Castro Castro is a controversial and divisive world figure, lauded as a champion of anti-imperialism, humanitarianism, socialism and environmentalism by his supporters, but viewed as a dictator who has overseen multiple human rights abuses by his critics. During his administration of Cuba, Castro has been heavily criticized both domestically and abroad, but particularly in the Western world. In the United States, and particularly in the state of Florida, which has a high Cuban-American population, Castro has been viewed with "passion and hatred". Although also unpopular in other parts of the west, in Canada and Western Europe, Castro was viewed no differently to other Marxist-Leninist leaders. Alarmed by his revolutionary credentials and friendly relations with the Soviet Union, the U.S. governments of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy unsuccessfully attempted to remove him, by economic blockade, assassination and counter-revolution, including the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961. Countering these threats, Castro formed an economic and military alliance with the Soviets, and allowed them to place nuclear weapons on the island, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. This maybe one of the greatest characteristics of history with it is the element of time and they say is a great healer. A leader, how bad or tyrant he had been during his reign in power, how corrupt his leadership is, will still be pardoned. Forgiveness may not be granted sooner, but with the passing of time and of generations, the people will learn to forget the detrimental experiences (history) they had.

2. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. - George Santayana I think one reason why history is taught in every class is that historians do not only want us to know the past events or their implications to us in the present, but also, to teach us that the mistakes of our predecessors can be avoided in such a way that lives will not be lost anymore. One event that we know is the atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan conducted by the United States during the final stages of World War II in 1945. The two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date. Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,00080,000 in Nagasaki, with roughly half of the deaths in each city occurring on the first day. The Hiroshima prefecture health department estimated that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In a US estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 1520% died from radiation sickness, 2030% from burns, and 5060% from other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizeable garrison. On 15 August, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan announced its surrender to the Allies, signing the Instrument of Surrender on 2 September, officially ending World War II. The bombings led,

in part, to post-war Japan's adopting Three Non-Nuclear Principles, forbidding the nation from nuclear armament. The role of the bombings in Japan's surrender, and the ethical justification of the two attacks arestill debated. Without the recollection of this event, we may never know how chaotic these nuclear bombings will be. Without learning this event, we may never know how many lives will be lost on earth. Learn from your mistakes they say. 3. The South creates the civilizations, the North conquers them, ruins them, borrows from them, spreads them: this is one summary of history. - Will and Ariel Durant, Lessons of History This is a notable observation in our world history. And it is only now that I realize that it is indeed true. Here are the evidences: a. The Southern Europe, mainly consists of Italy (Rome), Spain and Portugal had been the main Catholic believers in the world. But here came the Reformation Movement known as Protestantism, which originated from the Northern Europe (Germany and Great Britain). b. The Southern States known as the Confederates of the United States of America way back in the 18th century created the civilization of black slaves. These slaves became their backbone in the economy. But due to rapid modernization in the North, the Union, slavery was abhorred. Soon, Civil War broke out, and the Union wins. c. In the long course of human history, ancient civilizations emerged from the Southern part like Africa and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). These vast areas were once the seat of humanity, but again, the north part outgrown them. Today, most progressive states and nations can be found in the northern part of the globe (Europe for one). d. Greece, a southern country, was invaded by a northern city, Rome. Almost all the knowledge possessed by the Romans was borrowed from the Greeks and were spread to their colonies, or states within the empire. 4. The past does not repeat itself, but it rhymes - Mark Twain Sometimes, most of our notions are centered to how the history repeats itself. However, Mark Twain said that it doesnt. Although, we were colonized by the Spaniards, there are positive and negative results of their occupation in our country. The Filipinos felt the chaos brought about by their administrations and fought for their independence. Many were killed for the glory of their Fatherland. This adversity was again experienced when the Japanese came. The way Filipinos experienced the hardship is the same on the hands of the Spaniards and Japanese. The intensity only differs. However, their stays in the country resulted to different culture we have today. That is why history doesnt repeat itself but it rhymes. Things dont exactly happen in the same way and it rhymes because we experienced then we learned. 5. History remembers brilliant failures and the brilliant successes - Randolph S. Bourne Who can forget the EDSA People Power Revolution One, Two and Three? The Martial Law? The Spanish Colonization? How about the Americans and Japanese? The life and work of Rizal? The Philippine Independence? They are some of the brilliant failures and the brilliant successes of the past.