After a couple of weekends huddling with fellow Pinoy expats in my side of town, the consensus was the same -- “the Philippines is hopeless, we are just so happy that we are no longer Philippine citizens and don’t have to put up with the foolish choices that Filipino voters make”. Although they did ask me, who I voted for. I said, I didn’t register to vote because I was made to sign an affidavit that I will return to the Philippines to establish domicile within three years after my voter registration date.
First off, I asked the consular staff if I return in three years -- will the Philippine government compensate my relocation? Will it be able to pay the same compensation I am getting right now? Will I have the same conveniences when I return? My question was answered by a deer staring at headlights in the middle of the night.
Of course, we had that all too familiar grin when stuff like that is mentioned. Am just wondering if Americans or Europeans living overseas and who vote in absentia are made to sign an affidavit that they will return in three years. It doesn’t make sense -- but, hey it’s the Philippines -- where nothing makes sense.
Whoever that legislator was who came up with the requirement is a DUMBASS.
The Philippine Idiocracy Has Arrived
The Philippine elections were very predictable -- if a lazy oaf didn’t win, a thug would. If the thug wouldn’t win, the weasel would be very much happy to oblige. Looking at the three front runners reminds me of the intro to the film Idiocracy.
In the case of the Philippines, thinking and highly educated Filipinos keep their family sizes down to a sustainable minimum while the tontows, jologs, and jejemons multiply like poultry. Top it off, the discontent with the stupid choices made by the ignorant majority has made the lines to the American and European embassies longer.
If you viewed the previous clip, you would have seen the progression as more and more idiots are introduced into society. In the end, the ignorants call the shots -- oh boy what a disaster it can be.
Though you don’t need to see the movie Idiocracy to figure that one out -- just go to the Philippines -- where it is now trendy to be ignorant -- heavens to megatroid.
| IDIOCRACY:A brilliant satire directed at western civilisation; it is sharp, clever, and possibily a reality… By Michael Adams Given the amount of simple-minded sludge that clogs multiplexes, it’s a bitter irony that Idiocracy – a movie about the dumbing down of America -- was denied a global cinema release because US test audiences didn’t get it. So now the only place you’ll find this sharp, outrageously funny satire about human evolution shaped by survival of the dumbest is in the DVD store. Writer director Mike Judge gave the world Beavis & Butthead and Office Space and his fan base will no doubt turn Idiocracy into a cult hit, quoting it for years to come. The movie has the US military’s most average soldier, a slacker named Joe, cryogenically frozen for a year. Of course, the experiment goes wrong and he awakes 500 years from now into a world where the airheads have gone forth and multiplied while intellectuals have procrastinated themselves into extinction. Joe, played to droll perfection by Luke Wilson, is now the Smartest dude on Earth – initially feared, then promoted to saviour. He staggers through a world where language has devolved. The conversations that still take place are sponsored by corporations. The President is a former porn star wrestler. TV entertainment has followed the Jackass route to pain as spectacle. I don’t want to give too much away but Idiocracy is utterly hysterical. Although it’s often in tremendously bad taste and often very silly, the film – originally titled The United States of Uhhh-merica -- also has more relevant to say about the world in any given 5 minutes than Babel did in over two hours. It’s perfect for those of us who ask “Who’s dumber, Paris Hilton or the billions who follow her every move?” – only to realise we’re part of the problem precisely because we’re even asking this question. Idiocracy is a 21st century version of Woody Allen’s Sleeper. It’s one of the funniest satires I’ve seen in ages. 4 1/2 stars. |
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Pahabol: Philippine Cuisine and National Identity
Now, it would be really interesting to find out what a well-traveled individual has to say, when he gets the chance to visit the Philippines for the first time.
However, this time around -- the perspective is from the perspective of food. Why food? Well, the post-election results are in, there is definitely a transition and there is so much drama in the islands -- I figured screw the political drama and go for something -- light. Without further adieu, allow me to present a compilation of Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations’ adventure in Philippine cuisine.
Note that Episode 1 was filmed after incessant writing by the Filipinos why Philippine cuisine has not been featured when nearly ALL other nationalities had their cuisine featured -- for short, it was featured after the perennial question was raised “ba’t huli na naman kami” -- to which I could only say “do you really wanna know?” 
No Reservations -- Philippines Part 1 of 5
No Reservations -- Philippines Part 2 of 5
No Reservations -- Philippines Part 3 of 5
No Reservations -- Philippines Part 4 of 5
No Reservations -- Philippines Part 5 of 5
To the cluey, were you able to spot Bourdain’s subtle observations?
A self-described "mutt" having ancestors of diverse origins - Maranao, Ilonggo, Butuanon, and Ilocano. Born and raised in Southern Mindanao's Davao City, now living in the East Coast's Sunshine State.
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