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.

Democracy without...Democracy at the expense of...

I feel lucky that I was born a Filipino. Not only do I enjoy an environment fostering compassion that comes from being a Christian and a society that places equal value to both men and women, but I possess the freedom to choose my leader, even if it means myself.
The Philippines is not the first to exercise democracy in the world, but it is the birthplace of the first constitutional democracy in Asia in 1899. However, many times in the past the Philippines has been ravaged by colonizers and at one time a dictator. But our ancestors then, gifted with courage, were able to survive numerous battles either in a bloody or peaceful means, all for the noble cause of freedom. In 1986, the people united to oust the dictator that took away the Philippines’ liberty and freedom in many aspects of life. Since then, threats to ensure that our interest as a people stays on top and not just of the few who seek power for their benefit have been constantly condemned. The Filipinos were able to do many tremendous feats such as those embedded in history because of formal as well as informal education. Learning our history in books and through first hand experience from the past passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, grandparents to apo have taught us Filipinos to fight for freedom with a fervor that can only come from those who know what it means to be deprived of it.
Still now and then, the solid walls of democracy that is the people’s protection from self-serving individuals endure varied assaults. Learning from history, we know that as long as we keep educating ourselves, keep valuing freedom; whatever assault will never crack it down.
However, democracy has its downside.
It is true that there is no perfect form of government existent. But that is in fact only a ripple of truth from the one that says, “There is no perfect human being alive or otherwise.” True, even to a fairy tale, there is a flipside. And this isn’t even one.
All of us can feel a few of it especially now that one of the major components of preserving democracy is drawing close. We see familiar faces everywhere (the roadside, the television, even around us) when they never used to be there. These persons are using the protection of the names and emblems that we so respect and pay to keep existing, in order to ensure that they stay in power. And yet what can they do, because they still want to serve the citizenry (if that indeed is what they want) and have only that means to fish out voters?
But then, ideas come to mind.
It is pretty much realistic that being an archipelago is a bit of a disadvantage to communication and thus dissemination of information. But not anymore. What with the many forms of media now present. So why don’t they blog their acts daily as does many nowadays? Increase their effort of informing the people of what good they do all year round and not just during campaign period? Call yearly meetings/gatherings and give detailed reports of accomplishments even giving a piece of pan de sal to every Filipino present during such. Surely, that would not even amount higher to the sum of the merienda they order for every little meeting they have.
A few of this and more others could yield to them not cramming to be remembered by the citizens when they cast their ballots. Cramming=desperation=loss of morals=blablabla.
Whatever. I still want democracy. And I’m going to keep myself informed to ensure the meaning stays, even literally: demos “people” and kratein “to rule”.
Before I go, I thank the Greeks for inventing democracy.

A young adult’s view on Parental Guidance: adolescent stage

A thought after a parent-discouraged sleepover: Parents can show their children the way, but its still up to them if they want to follow it, make a detour, take a different road or create their own. It’s one thing parents should learn to accept, because once in their lives they’ve also experienced the surge of youth that’s never without the want if not the passion to learn things on their own, even to the point of foolishness. Perhaps not so genuine, but almost never ceases to be true.

The young have that innate urge to take experiences first hand in order to satisfy curiosities, prove themselves, learn things their way...etc. It’s how they develop their personalities and discover what they really want in life. Reality check though would tell, stumbling/failing/falling is never out of the possibilities, and that’s where parental fears stream in.

Plainly put, stumbling is encompassed in the good/bad/null possible consequence of every human endeavor. Yep, human endeavor and not just youth endeavor. It can happen to anyone and it happens to everyone. But why all the fear on stumbling? Parents answer: “Its enough that I stumbled before, but my child? Oh no, no.”

Parents can be overly imposing and protective because of their stumbling experiences in the past that they don’t want their beloved children to have to go through, without realizing they are blocking the possibilities and opportunities that can only come from freeing their children from too much parental bondage.

Contrary to popular thinking, stumbling is not wholly destructive. In fact it has the potential to sow inner strength and solid independence without regards to age. Remembering a beautiful line back in high school, “No gem is made without friction, not a man perfected without trial.” Every person needs a bit of pain to understand the use of painkillers. Every person needs a bit of scratch to know it is better to be careful next time. Because, only told will never be wholly understood. Perhaps that’s foolishness or perhaps that’s human nature.

That is not to say however that parents are no longer without role in an adolescent’s life, they still play a crucial role as in guidance and counseling, in keeping that atmosphere of love and belongingness, in being parents. There’s no diminishing their worth, only adjusting their roles. I hope they understand. And I hope children too understand because once parents learn to adjust, that’s when they will have their true beloved independence and everything they ever wanted will be theirs. But that’s when the true tests begin.

She Vies: Reviewing feminism.

In retrospect
Archaeological evidence from Europe and the Middle East has suggested that Stone Age Civilizations practiced goddess worship and were organized as matriarchs---social orders with women in charge. What went between those times and the beginning of eras when men began to dominate societies wasn’t stated. But by the time scrolls and early forms of record materials have been invented, what were scribbled and sculpted in them were already the glories of patriarchs.
For hundreds of years, this was the way in which the world has been operating: men in the upper echelons of society and women assigned under their protection and direction.

Women React
Earlier women must have already felt the pressure of the restrictions imposed upon them by society, but it was only in the 18th century when feminist ideas began to reach public ears and the 19th century when the term ‘feminism’ gained popularity.
Feminism is a collective term for systems of belief and theories that pay special attention to women’s rights and women’s position in culture and society. Feminists are united by the idea that women’s’ position in society is unequal to that of men, and that society is structured in such a way as to benefit men to the political and social detriment of women.
Mary Wollstonecraft of England, Simon de Beauvoir of France, Hildegard of Germany, and Betty Friedan of the United States of America are among the leading feminists of their time.

The Cause
Feminists have identified various aspects in which inequality is most evident and depressing for women based on their individual cultures.
Islamic feminism for example tries to redress issues as polygyny (having multiple wives) and purdah (seclusion from home). In western countries as in the US of A, though home to women proponents of the belief system, feminist movements have not rested and continuously target such as inequality in the workplace. In many Southeast Asian countries especially those with rigid cultures, traditional ideas on the nature and role of women have impacted the way they were treated in society. In the Philippines, women view has been influenced by the three-century-rule of the Spaniards who introduced the traits a woman must possess: religious, self-sacrificing, submissive, conservative and left out of the affairs of the state as in the person of Maria Clara in Jose Rizal’s two famous novels. Because of this, many women before have not received equal education and opportunities as men.

Society Responds
However, Pressing issues that highlight gender are no longer left unchecked by society. People have been made aware of gender-sensitive use of language. Women are given the freedom to air their public opinions. Professions are slowly becoming less gender-biased. The status of a husband and wife in the family as in terms of decision-making are now at par. At last, society has opened its arms to hear “herstory”. But…
Considering now that men have opened their minds and embraced women as their equal, a question remains hanging, waiting to be answered by all women united, if their cause is to succeed: Are they ready to pay the price of genuine equality? Are we?

Stink’stem’:Questioning a tolerated rotten system

True to life scenario
19 casually-clad employees make up the nexus office of an establishment. 15 from the count are on their butts---two staring blankly into space while chewing gum; seven hooked on blaring computer screens updating Facebook accounts, playing spider solitaire and watching porno while laughing around, feeling completely at home. Work is home; home is home.
9:30 on the dot and yet no boss has stepped in the office. 15 minutes pass and a few have already taken turns on the computers. One of the few bosses finally arrives, sits on his royal chair behind the desk, writes, chats, writes for about 15 minutes and exits again; his first and last appearance of the day---a normal day in the office…

The phone rings without halt. The door to the office barely closes. Computer screens blare of white light, hands keep typing, clicking, typing alternately faster than normal.
Everyone’s abuzz. Papers keep coming in and out, delivered here and there, inquiries her and there. All bosses are strapped on their seats all day signing, signing---salary day in the office…

Analogy of systems
The brain is the center of all functions of the body. Without it the body is lifeless. The brain is a network of nerve cells responsible of transmission of signals to all other organ systems. Without them, the brain is useless.

Order, receive, interpret, transmit, and respond: the mainstream process that transcends within the human system without conscious control. Only when disease is present will the process halt or fail to work as it should.

Human society is a simulation of the biologic processes of humans. It’s built to operate systematically for a particular purpose. But as diseases exist in the biologic sense so does it in a society that is only a simulation of the original. Error in connections occur but in a more massive scale. People can choose not to follow orders, orders can be made for personal gain, messages may not reach at the right time or messages may be altered and thus misinterpreted…etc…

In the office scenario above, what happens? No one is working as he/she should. Even the head poses himself/herself as a bad model for others to follow. There is a malady without question.

But what is that malady?
value system---
a scheme that cannot happen in the context of our analogue because it is culture in context, beyond the genius of logic.

No one person dares to speak out the obvious wrong in their daily doings because they know beneficial connections are at stake. If they won’t tolerate each other’s idiosyncrasies, they will live like hell in a place where they should only just follow ethical codes of conduct. A lax workplace is better than a rigid one even if it means flushing values down the drain because a rigid one requires effort that many people are not accustomed to.

'Besides, what are values for when no one’s looking? Or when the one you expect to look into the malady, himself/herself is an epitome of a rotten system?' Now that is stink'stem thinking.

*Stink'stem is a coined term by the author that when separated would read as stinking system.