Celebrating: the ‘pinoy’ style

It seems that every nationality in the world has something to contribute/show off to the global vocabulary/market. Is ‘The Pacman’ the only one for us Filipinos?
The Italians have their indispensable pasta; the Venezuelans, their bottomless stash of beauties; the Japanese, their controversial and mysterious geishas and quality tech products; the Hawaiians, the dreams of aphrodisiacal getaways. What of the Philippines? Surely, talented as we are by nature (lol), we have something to boast of aside from ‘pambansang kamao’ and more recently (though not that recent) Charisse Pempengco?
Trying to put in the limelight in this article is no less than the colorful, distinctly unique and lively festivities in the Philippines that showcases varied local cultures as well as our identity as a people.
Masskara Festival of Bacolod City for instance shows the creativity and gaiety of the Bacolodnons through the mask that they personally design as they make merry in the streets in October, Manggahan Festival of the province of Guimaras highlights through interpretative dances the way of life of the Guimarasnons as well as its being the island where the sweetest mangoes grow and of course the upcoming DInagyang Festival of Iloilo City, tagged as the Best Tourism Event in the Philippines for 3 consecutive years, exemplifies the religiosity of the Ilonggos as they offer dances in the beat of drums to Señor Sto. Niño.
All these festivals and many others (Ati-atihan of Aklan, Moriones of Marinduque, Flower Festival of Baguio and even our barangay fiestas) prove how in the midst of many trials the Filipinos are able to laugh, dance, give praise and offer their time to the preservation of culture and identity.
The quality of our festivals/celebrations in the Philippines, not to mention the quantity that supersedes that of other countries make us stand out in ways that are simply worth noting.
But what really is it in these Philippine festivities that those who experience them find unforgettable and special? Is it the colors? The music? The food? Well, maybe the food is one but there is one which I believe is most striking than the rest – we, the people ourselves.
The Filipinos have so much commendable traits that make us stand out everywhere we are put. Whether it be resilience amidst adversities, creativity towards work and play and in this case warmth that other races seem to lack and thus find in us irresistible and addictive.
In our every celebration/festivities is inherent always that feeling of warmth towards each other and our visitors. Everyone who knows and even doesn’t know each other connects in some spontaneous way through a simple smile, greeting or pep talk. Hosts make sure to keep their visitors relaxed, comfy and satiated showing them to every relative and friends like they’re going to live with them forever and serving them always the best of what the hosts have. We take care to inform them of every bit of info that can be shared to not let them feel left out.
In the case of fiestas, we tell our visitors “Pasensya because we only have lechon, paella, dinuguan, buko pandan, mango float, spaghetti, afritada, menudo, pancit molo and morcon for food.” We make sure they have the best of everything even if we ourselves would have to settle for tira-tira or as in the compilation of Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, you will know you are a Filipino if…you’ll go in debt for a celebration.
We Filipinos always give an experience that is worth repeating again and again. Why? Because that is simply the way we are. And that’s something we can add to our contributions to the global market slash vocabulary aside from Pacquaio and Pempengco.
(comments? Feel free to share. Pau.dom.cu.tar@gmail.com)

Truths about piracy

To showbizniz, everything about piracy is disturbing and destructive; but to the average pinoy/pinay who has fascination for Kim Chiu, Coco Martin, the yearly entries to the Manila Film Fest, Lady Gaga and Wonder Girls but can only spare a hundred and ten for such a whim, a hobby or whatever it is to them and cannot wait for the new movies or to be shown in the channels of the boobtube or the orginal CDs to be distributed in stores, piracy is like manna from the heavens.
The only reason this type of activity is hyped is because it is patronized by the common people the way they patronize ukay-ukay over brand new designer clothes. And there’s one root to that behaviour---the cost.
“Why would I buy a 500-peso worth of shirt from B3***4 or P3*****3 when everyone already has it, when I can just spare a hundred of my salary/allowance and own a not-so-new but looking new B5*5*5 R39u871c shirt which has a slim chance of having a duplicate in my immediate world or why would I buy the original C45**3L or G***i if I can buy an imitation which looks impeccably like the original.” Hmm.
Actually, the word piracy has five definitions in the Encarta Encyclopedia.
1) robbery on high seas: robbery on the high seas, especially the stealing of a ship's cargo. 2) robbery on any form of transportation: robbery committed on board any form of transportation, especially an aircraft 3) hijacking: the hijacking of an aircraft or another form of transportation 4) use of copyrighted material without permission: the taking and using of copyrighted or patented material without authorization or without the legal right to do so. 5) illegal broadcasting: the unauthorized or illegal broadcasting of TV or radio programs.
The fourth definition was purposely italicized because it is the kind of piracy talked about in this article with a few analogies to the others here and there.
According to piracy.com, all forms of piracy are an offence to the universal laws of society. Yes, society, not nature because pirates violate established human order. Simply put, they are outlaws in that they rob in all the sense of the word and are feared and hated by the people. Just to inject though, there came a time when seafaring pirates were commissioned by belligerent nations to carry on naval warfare (referring to definition 1). Seafaring pirates still exist today but the more common type of piracy is that which a great many peoples don’t only accept, they patronize it for their financial and self-esteem benefits.
It bloats the ego to be the first to know what “He’s Not that in to You” is all about before it hits the big screen or Beyonce’s newest single even before the album containing it is launched doesn’t it? Not to mention it saves so much expense.
I personally am a movie addict (save the likes of Saw and Hostel). But I can’t afford to watch all the entries to the Manila Film Fest in the movie house. I can only spend a hundred with my every salary.
This December though I watched 2 entries to the film fest in the big screen, not to mention their names, because the tickets were paid for by friends (lol). After watching, I felt proud of the quality of some of our (Pinoy) movies.
In fact, one of my new year’s resolutions is to minimize my patronizing piracy #4 especially when it comes to local films; but stop it? Hmm.
If one looks closer, there’s very little bragging about who has originals of what nowadays. What matters to the people now is that they’ve seen it, heard it, know it.
Sad as it seems, this is one bad bug to show business. But what can we do? Can we really do something about it?

Questions of Duty

While we are encouraged by our dreams to not say no to challenges, there are times in life when we have to pause and reconsider the consequences of never saying no.

Judge Cortez’ declaration to not accept the random assignment of presiding over the mass murder case in Maguindanao was perhaps to him one of those times. To the judge, safeguarding the life of his family was foremost yet it was a reason as unbecoming as it was sensible considering the names involved. Perhaps this is not the first time that a judge has denied presiding over a case but this is one of those that have been made big because of the gravity of the circumstance and the extensive exposure that has been afforded it in the past weeks.

One cannot deny that the decision itself was not simple because not only did it affect him and possibly the case, but most relevant is the impact it had to the issue of duty to ones profession (not only to that of judges per se); but also to those whose work entails some level of danger and hazard--- media men, police and (though not mentioned in the news), doctors and nurses.

If one is to judge him as a family man, that act would have counted him as commendable but as in the opinion of his colleagues seen in the news, he is someone sworn to a particular oath of duty that though subject to exceptions, it was still better for his reputation, the reputation of his profession and for many other reasons that he did not back off the assignment.

‘What would someone do with fame if he loses all else most important to him?’ is the rhetoric held on to by those who believe in the sensibility of his choice; but to those whose principles rise above self, ‘It is his sworn duty to accept a case no matter what it is’ is the gist of their rebuke.

It is not without benefit that an issue such as this has been brought into public view again. People need to know their rights regarding this matter to prevent exploitation, to protect themselves etc. and professionals need to know or review their duties as well.

In the profession whose laws and ethics I am most aware of, that of nursing, a nurse cannot say no to taking care of a patient even if he has active tuberculosis, AIDS and other diseases which are easily transmissible because of the fear of being infected because of his sworn duties of promoting health, preventing illness, restoring health or if not possible, assisting to a peaceful death.

Besides, they say that when one chooses a career and practices it, he is entitled to the benefits just as much as he is entitled to the risks and where he accepts all things good afforded by his profession, he too must accept with the same willingness the not so good things that go with it.
And that is not even an idea known only by educated people.