It took me all of thirty years to contemplate on what this practice is all about and if it does what it is supposed to do -- to inculcate in the minds of every young mind what it is to be a Christian and a true Filipino so that we can take pride on who we are. From among the three, the national anthem and panatang makabayan seems to be the more inutile. The last phrase in the National Anthem says, Ang mamatay ng dahil sa'yo! "to die for your glory!" alluding to our heroes who sacrificed their lives so that we can live happily and freely. This alone should have been sufficient to inflame our passion for patriotism, inspire and move us to tears if only for the sheer intensity of the emotion evoked by the song. And yet, this is not the case.
Looking at the young minds in my care today, I see myself thirty years ago when I was a teen-ager myself. Unaffected by the words, more inclined to hum the tune, recite the sing-song pattern of a beautiful poem (I'm talking about the old version) wondering what those deep tagalog words were, rather than taking these to heart. Sometimes amused, a lot of times bored. The morning routine seems to have turned into nothing but just that - a routine. And just like it had been to me as a youngster, the morning routine is nothing but a perfunctory exercise that must be done just because it has to be done. Something that has to be egested by the system like uhm, yes, excrement. It is actually meaningless to these teen-agers. What do you expect? They're young, carefree and on top of the world. But should this be so? Should we wait for another thirty years before they experience the same enlightenment? Is this an unending cycle? What brought this about?
We are not a very fortunate race. We have been occupied by at least three oppressors who raped our resources, robbed us of an indigenous culture that could have grown by itself, prospered in a unique system of governance that would have been suited for our situation and temperament and gained the fruits of our intellect. As it is now, our resources have long been depleted, and in return are given the spoils of developed countries at a very high price. We have a deranged culture that borrows heavily from the west, giving us the monicker "brown apes" by our supposed "idols". We have caused our economy to plunge even lower than rock bottom as a result of corruption and mismanagement and seen the rise of brain drain to staggering heights in number much higher than the first wave that occurred during the 60's.
How does one expect the young to be proud of who they are under these circumstances? When even their parents are wont to buy all the whitening products in the market and coloring their hair blonde just so they can have a Caucasian look? Spend thousands of money for a liposuction just so they can have that whistle-bait figure of Angelina Jolie? Never mind the flat nose, the shortness of their legs, and the thickness of their lips. Our demented concept of beauty is absurd for what we see as beautiful is something we are not. How can we become creative and establish our own when we ourselves deem our own products as inferior just like we see ourselves?
Take a look at our television game shows. These are nothing but sorry adaptations of foreign game shows if not the actual one to which we have paid a huge amount of money for its franchise. Last Sunday, my children were watching some sort of a local version of the American idol where there are, surprise surprise, three judges. Andrew E, the girl from the disbanded "Kulay" band and another guy whom I have just seen for the first time. A local
Our music is going nowhere. If only we were able to appreciate our own, we might have developed a more progressive music culture. Unlike the samba that saw the popularity of Brazilians Jobim, Gilberto and Getz, or reggae which catapulted Bob Marley and Jamaica to fame, Filipino music never infiltrated the American market. Why, because of the ease by which we assimilate to any culture. While this is a good thing, still, we don't get to promote who we are and what we can offer in a huge way. Local bands would copy a song, note for note. And what's more, the singer would try to mimic the voice and manner of speech of the singer. As JKX would say, ayayayay!
Even the art scene should not be spared. I have long lamented the fact that when children draw cartoons, they would do anime characters. Why? Simply because they don't have any alternative. It has been a long dream of mine to create a full length cartoons with a team of creative talents, working with them from pre to post production. Maybe Biag ni Lam Ang for starters. But as I am a poor man, that will remain to be a dream for yet a very long time. Maybe someone out there could pick the idea. I don't care. As long as we start creating our own.
This entry is getting to be so long and boring, I wonder if you have reached this point. If you did, thank you for bearing with me. Maybe you can share your comments. I'd love to hear it. At any rate, how can we expect the young to understand the urgency of having a better tomorrow? How do we imbibe in them pride of who we are as a people? Certainly, it will take more than the singing and the reciting of the national song and pledge but it should be a start. So, boys and girls, sing loud and take pride that you are a Filipino. If not, who else will do that for you? You cannot cover your identity by make-up or any law made by man. You will always be who you are.
27 comments:
imitating foreign shows is less expensive time-, talent-, and cost-wise, as well as instantly appealing to the masses due to recall so networks prefer that approach.
opm 'died' with the eraserheads and bamboo mañalac's leaving rivermaya. good bands are up and coming, but while we're in the slump, foreign influences are taking center stage, as you mentioned.
as for the visual arts, neither the movie adarna or the game anito did well, so others became hesitant about follow-up projects.
these are a shame, considering that our liberal arts are cultural specialties that have the potential to really put the philippines on the map.
at last positively, this time.
*I made it til that part Kuya rollie* :P
alright let me give my more than 2 cents here. I vividly remember doing stuff that you mentioned when I went there for grade school. For a 3rd grader who just moved there, it was hard to understand the concept of that "routine" and I bet until now, any foreign students will follow that "routine" (if it is what's required even they do not know the song) but would not grasp the ideals behind it.
We are not lucky to have such "routine" here. Our bell rings and we are inside the classroom then classes starts. We are so diverse here that a mere mention of God in any pledge of allegiance to the country can be a court matter. Religions are all around different that no one denomination can be practiced at school (unless you are going to a private religious sect school)
Later in life, is when I finally realized the concept of that "ritual or routine" in the Philippine schools, may it be private or public. It is the best way to teach young people loyalty to their country and to their God.
*sorry for an exceptionally long comment*
I read the whole article titorolly.
In my school, we used to do it only during Mondays. Selected pupils were assigned to lead the singing of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Panatang Makabayan.
I plead guilty when I changed the wordings of that "ang mamatay ng dahil saiyo" to " ang mamatay sila ng dahil saiyo."
Now I still like to change that part of the song to
"Sino pa ang mamatay dahil saiyo?" .
You must know why.
you just encapsulated my sentiments to our present situation tito rolly. great article and ever not boring. i have one comment lang sa atin lahat... as a people, we have lost focus on what's important. we escape into superficial diversions and shy away from the worsening situation. oh well. btw, congrats! pala sa blog of the week! a citation truly deserved.
Stani you think it's cheaper? Analyse it some more. Watching these foreign shows dictates our sense of aesthetic value. With that comes our colonial mentality. Not good for the economy, right? How many friends do you have who would only buy signature clothes? OPM should've grown with Eraserheads and all the other bands who were doing a newer sound. It's a long way coming since the Juan dela Cruz started composing rock songs that appealed to the teen agers of my time. They sort of opened the market for that genre. But we're beginning to copy again.
As for the Filipino cartoons, the ones who did them did not do their assignment. Or maybe they had to cutback on some of the expenses. What I have in mind is to incorporate filipino made cartoons into the system. Maybe a short film of a hero's/heroine's tales first like sorry for the example, Popeye. Then, a full length after it kicks off.
Thanks for your comments.
Cerridwen Tahnks for reading it till the end. About your comment "We are so diverse here that a mere mention of God in any pledge of allegiance to the country can be a court matter" yes, I heard something to that effect from my american friends. Too bad, although I am not religious, I do pray to my God. I am a believer of ecumenism. To each his own. Every religion prays. A generic prayer is not harmful, it might do us some good.
That's alright. You don't have a long comment. I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks
Bayi It does have some significant value. I guess, reciting it everyday, it becomes some sort of a mantra and we begin to imbibe it unintentionally. The only problem is at what age do we really hear ourselves?
At one point, we will, you see. And that's because you've been reciting it over and over...thanks for sharing your wisdom with me.
Cathy ah, ever the rebel. Of course I know why. I have been thinking the same thing. Who else should die now so that we can go on with a happy life? Did I say Gen. Garcia and his ilk?
Thanks for reading the whole article. I thought it would be boring.
Julsitos hey, thanks for thinking it's not boring. I always thought a very long article would bore readers but i didn't know how to cut this one short. You said it correctly. We lack focus. I think we have an idea of what the focus should be but we need to have blinders. Thanks for the greeting.
points taken. but mine was that their thinking is in the here and now, not in the long term. by the time the economy's beyond hope they'd most probably have left the country, since they have the funds. the fact that they have contingency makes them less inclined to care, i'm afraid.
i still have faith in the music industry. opm has a heavier sound now, but that familiar je ne sais quoi hasn't changed. today's rakistas still retain respect for the local music industry, as well as those following acoustic music [too bad most local artists of this genre start out by covering foreign songs]. it's actually our pop scene that's a total carbon copy.
it would be good if someone [you and your team, perhaps?] would indeed pick up the philippine cartooning industry. we have the talent; all we need now is enough will.
keep blogging. ingat.
Yes Tito Rolly, it is really a sad unending cycle. The only way our yourth can see the true meaning of these "words" is for us to show them good example or retults. But sadly during these past few years there haven't any significant change or improvement for them to get inspired. The media which should play a very important role and have the greatest influence in their minds prioritized maintaining their ratings and profits rather than showing enough good programs. If it is "in" or popular they will promote it even more regardless of having negative effects on ones minds.
We can just keep on doing our share on whatever part or role possible to make any contribution especially our role as parents.
I read it all too, Tito Rolly. Despite my headache. Now the headache is coupled with a sheer feeling of frustration that seems to suck out any feeling of joy.
I think the problem is that we need to put some substance into everything. What does singing the national anthem and reciting the panatang makabayan by rote mean when the kids don't even know what the words mean? Much the less the spirit in which they were composed.
Local TV programming is such a sore subject with me that I only propose one solution. DOn't watch local TV. A good book is always a better option. Or, even surfing the net and reading.
It hurts, doesn't it, about how Filipinos try to look and feel something they are not? Media is responsible to a great extent. And advertising. And the ones who are so vulnerable are the ones incapable of discerning.
Humahaba na rin itong comment ko. Nahawa na ako sa iyo...
"How does one expect the young to be proud of who they are under these circumstances?"
Yan ang pinakamahirap na tanong na walang gustong sumagot, Tito Rolly.
Let's face it. Hindi na ito ang panahon ni Rizal at Bonifacio. WALA nang magpapakamatay para sa bayang HINDI naman marunong magmahal sa mamamayan niya. Meron din siguro. Pero konti lang sila. At pag namatay pa sila (high probability), paano na?
Me mga Pilipinong namamatay dahil sa pagkain ng basura, at meron din namang Pilipinong walang habas kung kumuha ng suhol at lagay sa mga suppliers ng gobyerno.
Kanya-kanya na ang laro ngayon.
If adults do not know what SACRIFICE means, how can the kids learn it?
I pity our heroes. They died for these?
Sabi nga ni Enrile, noong time daw nya, doing something fishy means "doing it under the table" or "doing it over the table." Ngayon daw, he is shocked! Pati yung TABLE kasama na sa ninanakaw.
Singing the National Anthem and reciting the Panatang Makabayan is all showbiz now. They don't know what it means. They just want to get it over with. Rituals. Just like the Our Father and the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. Rituals. Recited from memory. But empty, empty, empty.
We have gone from bad to worst.
"How does one expect the young to be proud of who they are under these circumstances?"
Yan ang pinakamahirap na tanong na walang gustong sumagot, Tito Rolly.
Let's face it. Hindi na ito ang panahon ni Rizal at Bonifacio. WALA nang magpapakamatay para sa bayang HINDI naman marunong magmahal sa mamamayan niya. Meron din siguro. Pero konti lang sila. At pag namatay pa sila (high probability), paano na?
Me mga Pilipinong namamatay dahil sa pagkain ng basura, at meron din namang Pilipinong walang habas kung kumuha ng suhol at lagay sa mga suppliers ng gobyerno.
Kanya-kanya na ang laro ngayon.
If adults do not know what SACRIFICE means, how can the kids learn it?
I pity our heroes. They died for these?
Sabi nga ni Enrile, noong time daw nya, doing something fishy means "doing it under the table" or "doing it over the table." Ngayon daw, he is shocked! Pati yung TABLE kasama na sa ninanakaw.
Singing the National Anthem and reciting the Panatang Makabayan is all showbiz now. They don't know what it means. They just want to get it over with. Rituals. Just like the Our Father and the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. Rituals. Recited from memory. But empty, empty, empty.
We have gone from bad to worst.
Stani That is what's wrong with our system. We are letting these guys rule us and when we've been sucked dry, they leave. Very comforting, huh?
Santi Tama ka. All we can do for now is to be good examples hoping that they would realize it sooner than we think. Everything's not lost yet. We have risen up from all adversities everytime. Let's just hope we don't get to the point where we can't rise up again.
Sassy Thanks for reading it through. Medyo mahaba nga but I am that incensed with these topics. I don't watch local tv anymore. Talagang nakaka-upset lang. Shallow plots, bad acting, commercials, are a terrible mix.
don't worry, I don't mind long comments. As a matter of fact, i welcome them.
Doc Emer Oo nga. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga heroes natin? That they all died in vain? NAgpatong patong na kasi ang problema natin and our only recourse is through escapist shows.
Thought this entry was engaging. I share most of your sentiments. In college, I was a Sociology major and actually did my senior thesis on Filipino youth and American culture. Entitled "An Analysis of the Role of Hip-Hop Within the Filipino American Youth Community," I tried to understand and explain exactly why we tend to "borrow" and assimilate into popular culture rather than express our own. My thesis was 75 pages long and I'm not about to try to explain it! Suffice it to say, I agree w/ you about your sentiments on how the youth should be proud of their culture.
At the same time, however, I do think that just b/c kids try to talk "slang" or use urban language, I don't think they're trying to "infiltrate" per se. Following trends and popular culture is the norm for youth across the globe, not just Filipino kids.
You write: "This seemingly gibberish talk is a dialect for a certain group to which you don't belong. Do you think you can infiltrate this kind of sub-culture? No way, dude! Get real! Okay, so rap is becoming international, but can you at least do it in tagalog?"
Rap has its roots in Black culture beginning in the South Bronx. But rap is also a dialogue on oppression (although you wouldn't know it now from the shitty rap music that gets played on the radio). People across the world can certainly relate to oppression (in some way, shape or form). Just because someone talks in urban slang doesn't mean he's trying to infiltrate this sub-culture. It merely shows appreciation, a wanting to be cool thing, or something else.
However, you'd be pleasantly surprised at how Filipinos have "infiltrated" the world of hip-hop/rap. Young filipinos (and other Asians, read: non-Black/Hispanic) here in the U.S. have made excellent contributions to the worlds of hip-hop/rap. Take 'The Neptunes' for example, they are a multi-million dollar producing duo --one is fully Filipino, and one is part-Filipino. They have produced tracks for Jay-Z and other artists like Britney, etc. There are a lot of hip-hop DJ's here in the U.S. who are Filipino (e.g., Mix Master Mike)...I can go on and on...
Kat Thank you for your comments. When I write something to this effect, I only have Filipinos living in the Philippines. Living abroad is totally a different scenario. The experiences are different, the language is different and so is the culture. Filipinos in the States have first hand experience while the young Filipinos living here do not. it is a totally different aspect in its totality. I admire Filipinos getting into the mainstream of any culture. That only signifies how easily we can live under any given situation. As a matter of fact, I even said that getting assimilated easily is a good thing. The only setback of this is that we don't get to promote the country and our ways unlike,say, the hispanics. Their music has infiltrated the music scene and I got to know Carlos Santana and other hispanics playing their own kind of music.
It is true that rap is turning global because the experiences from which it started is global. My question is why would Filipinos living here would want to imitate the language and its nuances? LAnguage is after all, about culture. I have seen that rap has also infiltrated other countries like Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. But at least, they use their vernacular thus giving them some sort of ownership to the song and making it a lot more relevant to their experiences. i'd say this is better than just mimicking every phrase uttered by their idols.
Again, I'd like to thank you for your very insightful comments.
Uy, Unkel Rolly, I read till the end, too :)
For me, I have nothing against Filipinos doing rap. Rap is becoming an accepted form of music and is very influential. Andrew E. and Fancis Magalona were good and still are. And they became icons because they rapped about things Filipino rather than copy the rappers in the US. They rapped about things that the Filipinos can relate to. They don't try to sound like African-Americans but rather, they sound Pilipinong-Pilipino. Medyo may underlying "greenery" yung kay Andrew E, but Pilipino pa rin, nevertheless.
Medyo masakit ngang pakinggan yung mga pinoy na "gumagaya" ng mga African-American rappers kahit na hindi nila alam kung ano yung ginagaya nila. Most of these A/A rappers use Ebonics, which is part of their culture and their identity as a race. Some of them rap about social and economic issues relevant to their people. Bagay sa African-Americans yun, kasi kanila yun. Bagay naman ang pinoy mag-rap eh, basta maging tutuo lang sila sa kung ano at sino sila at kung ano ang kultura at mga issues natin - yun ang i-rap natin!
I felt sad when you mentioned the "rape" of the Philippines, not just by our past oppressors but of our very own leaders. It is very sad... Sometimes you don't really know where all the hardships started because one aspect seems to be the cause of the other and the result of another, etc, etc, etc. Is our copying of things foreign a cause for the current mistakes or is it a result of previous ones? At this point, vicious circle na sya.
Ate Siena What really gets my goat are young Filipinos not only mimicking rappers but even acting like they're afro americans. The bouncy stance and the get-up which to me really looks ridiculous. Siguro tumatanda na lang ako.
sa pasko tito rolly, magra-rap tayo kasama ni batjay.
:)
i could practically hear the lupang hinirang swelling in the background as i finished your entry. very inspiring, sir. :)
sa music... artists like rivermaya, bamboo, etc. are, i think, helping a lot. they may not make filipino songs all the time, but their filipino pride is so strong you can always sense it in the way they do their work. and personally, i believe we could use more songs like "noypi".
on the other hand, songs like "bulaklak", with its... um... less-than-innocent implications are something to be ashamed of. how are we going to progress if we keep stepping back everytime we take a step forward?
at hindi lang po sa musika. allow me to point out the obvious nursing brain drain problem. turns out ang tagal na po pala ng sitwasyon na 'to... na-magnify lang ngayon. marcos once said something like, "if they ask for a hundred nurses, we give them five hundred more." yeah, i know, nakakatulong po sa ekonomiya yung pinapadalang dolyar, but at what cost? yung poster nga po ng university of perpetual help na nagkalat sa las pinas... nag-aadvertise ng nursing... ang background... statue of liberty. okaaaay. gan'on na bang ka-hopeless ang bansa na'tin?
kahit po magulang ko... you'd think they'd want my brother and me to stay and serve our country (someday)... instead, sila pa ang pumipilit sa aming tumira sa states. it's for our own good, they say. taking practicality into consideration, okay, they probably couldn't be more right. but what about patriotism and love for country? more importantly... what about love for countrymen? the philippines needs more than money. it needs filipinos... true and loyal men and women who are willing - and PROUD - to serve their fellowmen.
[hehe. sorry po ang haba. and yes, i realize i sound a little idealistic. but i'm young. i have plenty of time to be disillusioned. haha. :p]
- miki
Hello Sir Rolly! Naalala ko rin yang araw-araw na flag ceremony, panatang makabayan, morning prayer at alma mater hymn to end the morning ceremony. Every 4th year studes take their turn to lead the song with matching
music beat as part of grading sa music subject(4/4 ba yung notes ng lupang hinirang?-tama ba terms ko?...bobo ako sa music eh) Kaya nung turn ko na, absent ako, hehehehe. Di pa rin nakaligtas dahil kinabukasan, ako rin ang nag lead bukod sa napagalitan pa. And I remeber biag ni lam ang too, ahhh! memories!
Pwede ko po kayong i-link sir? TY
miki Re your comment:on the other hand, songs like "bulaklak", with its... um... less-than-innocent implications are something to be ashamed of. how are we going to progress if we keep stepping back everytime we take a step forward? So true. Marami tayong commercialized na kanta na may sexual undertones na sumikat na ultimo batang babae na two years old, ginagaya. Sadly, you'd see their mothers egging them on to dance the steps not realizing the implications. Innocent as they are, tuwang-tuwa when they make the adults happy.
I can understand your parents wanting you to go to the States. Mas malaki ang chances mo to be bigger there, that is kung papalarin ka. Mahirap din naman daw ang buhay dun e. I wouldn't know, di pa ko natira dun e.
Tanggero hmmm, asan tagay ko? Nung elementary ako, umiikot ang paglead ng routine sa lahat ng level. Nakapaglead din ako nun at dahil boy scout ako, nakapagtaas na din ako ng bandera. Yes, nung panahon ko, ang ginagamit na beat for the national anthem is 4/4 but in reality, it should be in 2/4 time as originally composed. March ang lupang hinirang. Slight difference but it's all about the emphasis. I'd be glad to be included in your links. I'll link you up too. :-)
Point well taken. I'd be a hypocrite to say that I myself am not guilty of going about every single morning routine without any meaning. I don't know why but for some reason being forced to recite it every single school day morning just made it somewhat redundant. Lets be frank, not even our own teachers take it to heart, they're to busy monitoring the students and coercing them to recite it. But in my defense, I don't think this affects my being patriotic. There are still other things that "inflame my passion for patrtiotism" as you would say. As miki said earlier, songs like "noypi" do make me proud to be filipino. And contrary to the majority of youth today I don't have a single urge or desire to work abroad. Visit or study, yes but not migrate or work there. Probably has something to do with the way I was brought up. My parents always imposed on us the value of patriotism. Anyhow, I too am saddened by the state of philippine media. But then again, most of the middle and highclass are. We don't do anything about it though, as earlier suggested we just ignore it completely and resort to cable tv or simply dont watch tv at all. As for our country being "raped" by our colonizers. So true, although I don't exactly wish that we were not colonized because hardly any one can still trace back their roots to indigenous filipino ancestors so I most likely wouldnt be considered filipino. Selfish reason but I love being filipino and wouldnt want to have any other nationality:)Since many people who have posted comments already said most of what I would have had to say. I noticed though that most of them had a tone of hopelessness and loss of faith in the filipino youth. But can I just ask you and your readers not to lose faith in filipino youth. Please at the very least consider that although many of the youth you see are indifferent to thier fellow filipinos suffering don't generalize every single one of us. There is still hope for the future of the Philippines. And to all the youth (and also willing adults) out there who might want to help their fellow filipinos who are suffering please support the GK777. Here's the site for more info: http://www.cfcglobal.org.ph/gawad_kalinga/gawad_kalinga.htm :)
-Samantha:http://www.blurty.com/users/devlshlyangelic
P.S. By the way sir, who ended up getting the last slot for the nationals? Just out of curiosity :)
Samantha Yes, it might seem to be meaningless today but by doing it every morning, it just might sink in, don't you think. Let's put it this way, it works like you're being brain washed. bwahahaha. Works like a mantra. If only you guys have not been bombarded by media with its commercialism, you would have been patriotic Filipinos by now.
As for the teachers, that's part of their jobs. They're expected to do that. Believe me when I say the whole point would be meaningless it they didn't do that. You're being taught how to respect your country, the flag in the hope that you'd learn to respect who you are.
I'll check out the site you gave me and see what this is all about. :-)
Thanks for visiting again. As regards the debate, hmmm, let's see. It's not only me who decides if we are joining or not. Remember, the debate club is under the English department. How did I ever get mixed up with the English department, you ask. Beats me. haha
bayi a kind visitor of my site so highly recommended this site! still reading... :)
Defying gravity Welcome to my humble abode in cyberspace. Hope you like what you see and read here. Bayi is a very good cyberfriend of mine. A regular here, he was among the first to comment for which i am very appreciative.
I was trying to access your site through the link but your profile isn't a shared one. I was hoping to read your entries, too.
WOW! What a mouthful of truth! I've been too busy at work and no internet access at home, so huli ako sa balita.
This is one of the most insightful posts I have read regarding the Filipino psyche. Years of colonialism has robbed us of our identity and we need to reclaim it and make it our own again. What has always saddened me is when I hear people say they are Filipino and Chinese, or Filipino Spanish, or Filipino, etc. etc. As if by being mixed with another race, their status somehow becomes more elevated than if they just say they are pure Filipino. Why is it that in every other asian country, being of mixed race is looked down upon, but in the Philippines it seems to be coveted? Mestizos are given more importance it seems. Some people have told me maybe it is sour grapes because I am brown skinned and "pango". But I don't think that is it. I just see something very wrong when a group of people cannot be proud of who they are without changing themselves to conform. It is just so sad. More so because it seems this attitude is so insidious it affects everything we do, from the arts to technology. I still remember a friend being ridiculed as "baduy" because he is into OPM. I was kind of glad, because he is the one who introduced me to the music of APO. (Sorry, I'm in an APO frame of mind, having just come from TingAling's blog :))
Great post, Rolly. But I guess you knew that already, judging by the number of comments.
Hello Tito Rolly! Your post is indeed a direct hit to the stark reality we now face: that there is very little love left for our country.
Tingnan mo nga lang mga kabataan ngayon. Yung mga pa-coño na salita na hinalong english and filipino ... gosh, I'm so naaasar na. hehehe. But seriously, it shows how shallow their mindsets have become. Pag nakasuot ka ng may brand na foreign sounding, cool ka. Pero hanggang dun na lang.
Ang mga bata ngayon, tanungin mo ng alamat. Malamang wala silang masasagot. Tanungin mo ng bugtong. Sasabihin nila absent sila ng school. Nawawala na ang ating sense of culture and pride. Wala nang umuupo sa paanan ni lola at makinig sa kanyang mga kwento.
JMom thanks for your comments. in fairness, there are other races that try to be westernized too. Girls dyeing their hair to become blond, etc. We see this in Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan. we are beginning to be one global village. This may be fine sana but the problem is we haven't found our identity yet. Sana matutunan muna nating mahalin ang sariling atin. And when we are already comfortable to who we are, then, pwede ng gawin kung ano ang gustong gawin.
Watson jan ako asar na asar. Yung mga mahihilig magsuot ng imported, especially those who look down on others who dno't conform to their "expensive" taste. Colonial mentality has been with us since time immemorial. Wala ka ng makikitang batang nakaupo sa paanan ng kanilang lola. Patay na kasi si Lola Basyang e. hehehe
Magandang araw po Tito,
Maaari po ba ninyong isulat sa tagalog ang mga nakapaskil dito sa blog ninyo para maunawaan ng mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan na tulad ko.
Maraming Salamat po.
Olga
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