The Manila Hostage Crisis has been recognized as one of the greatest mistakes of our Filipino leadership and our culture. It has shown right to the world how defective our culture and system are, right from the hostage taker and his family to the policemen in their bungled rescue attempt. Filipinos and foreigners have been sobered and saddened by the events. Many are saying that it has exposed various wrongs in our system, and various international analysts have commented, correctly, on what has happened.
Now one of the worst reactions that Filipinos have is to say, “We are still proud to be Filipinos in spite of what happened! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” (side comment: yeah, ‘in spite of,’ Filipinos tend to spite other nations). Some Filipinos see it as a rightful action to save our image. It even seems that we are the only nation to use this kind of reaction. We try to remain a proud race despite another country’s people being killed on our territory.
Andrew Philip Cunanan: This guy certainly gives us nothing to be proud of.
My colleague here in AP Benign0 believes that Filipinos have to be shamed in order to realize their mistakes and change. This hostage crisis should have served as such an event. However, it seems that many Filipinos have immunized themselves against shame and instead tried to cover it up with trying to recover what’s left of their “pride.”
The problem is that proclaiming Filipino pride at this point is very wrong to do. From the Chinese point of view, statements of Filipino pride right now only serve to further degrade our already damaged image to the world. It is especially embarrassing now that Chinese are angered not only at the event, but at PNoy’s “smiling” visage and the pictures of disrespectful souvenir takers (a nice word is camwhores) circulating around the Net.
Saying that we’re still proud is seen as an act of arrogance, especially in the eyes of a nation that has been wronged by one of ours. It’s not just pride anymore. It’s hubris. If Chinese or even other countries see this, they’ll say, “Oh, you proud of yoh man who killed owah peepoh?” Certainly, Filipinos are not proud of that. But to foreigners, they rightly see that it’s funny for Filipinos to find any reason to be proud at all. Some people were killed. And the killer was Filipino. He represented us that day. That we cannot deny.
Oh my, Rep. Ronald Singson is in for a hell of a time in Hong Kong.
This issue probably reflects one thing: our culture and condition have become so pathetic, that we look to any aspirin to relieve the pain instead of getting the right treatment for the disease. We have a lot of problems: we send OFWs to the countries whose nationals we kill. We have a corrupt government, even the current one. Our population is growing to catastrophic levels, and yet an outdated church tries to stop nearly any method at population control. High crime, high poverty, high blood… we are unfortunately on the lower end (or even at the lowest end) when compared to our Asian neighbors.
We look to pride to try and lift us from the sober mood. We go back to pleasantry addictionon the positive in order to escape the negative. We seek escape by cheering Venus Raj, using the “pwede na yan” mentality to accept the 4th runner up position. That only shows how weak in character the Filipino culture has made of its people. instead of facing the problem squarely and trying to solve it properly. We try to focus
We should stop this obsession with pride. We need to acknowledge our mistakes. We Filipinos need to accept that the hostage crisis is a failure of our culture. Pride is especially a part of our culture’s failures. The failure is that we look for pride even if we should not!
Mendoza: a product of misplaced pride
I also propose that Mendoza is a victim of this stuffing of pride in the Pinoy ego. Mendoza after all was a decorated cop in his day. But why did he hostage foreigners at all? What do his demands to negotiators reflect? Also, why would a policeman like him feed narcotics to a suspect as a form of torture? Clearly, it was misplaced pride.
Since we are a Catholic country, let me front the question: why are we looking for pride when it is the top among the seven deadly sins? 
I say, down with the pride. Let us humble ourselves. Humility is not negative. It is positive for a time like this.
We can still be Filipino. We don’t need to be ashamed of it. But we need to be ashamed of what happened. Yet shame is not the opposite of pride. Humility is. Let’s go in that direction.
And once we fix our problems can we truly be proud.
This is how the world will continue to see us if we don't change for the better.
About the Author
ChinoF has written 29 stories on this site.
Chino, a freelance writer and aspiring artist, believes that Filipino culture is backward, repressive, corrupt and defective, so if you want to do something right in this country, you have to go against culture. He also knows that in doing so, you risk being called "anti-Pinoy" by the defective and deceived people, and hence he feels at home in this blog site. Chino is also a former Google Answers Researcher who went by the username techtor-ga.
Well said.
[Reply]
I totally agree.
People keep spouting “Filipino pride” when there’s so much that we have yet to accomplish. Pride is a sin that will lead to people believing that they are perfect and thus unable to do any wrong. And that needs to stop. If not, our country will never progress.
I’m not ashamed to be a Filipino but I’m not proud to be one either.
[Reply]
I totally agree on that!
We all know that Pride is a sin… And for some is an enemy in Fullmetal Alchemist. We can have a little pride in ourselves… And if you’re too proud of yourself, that’s where it becomes a sin… And you become the enemy.
I’m still proud to be a Filipino… But for once, I can’t say it because of this incident which saying it, would bring me more shame and disgrace to myself and the whole country!
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Perhaps for now, the safe words are probably “I’m willing to be Filipino,” or “I’m still Filipino,” since our nationality doesn’t have to be the victim at all. Our pride, our hubris, is what we need to strike down.
I wonder why Filipinos have to be hung up on the world “pride?” Lack of vocabulary? It’ll boil down to education.
[Reply]
bokyo Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 8:00 am
“I’m still a Filipino but denounces the crime one of my own has commited” is a more appropriate term instead of that “I’m still a Proud Filipino. That guy’s only one bad needle in a haystack”
[Reply]
“I’m not proud of being a Filipino”. But i hope that the time will come that i could change that statement. That’s why, we need to stop deluding ourselves that we could find redemption with the success of some talented Filipinos with their certain fields (e.g; sports, singing, etc..). True redemption of our dignity, as a Filipino, will only happen when we strip ourselves with our current pride and restoring the spirit of Nationalism that we have lost.
[Reply]
I cringe whenever I read people on the net say “In spite of what happened, I’m proud to be Pinoy!” It’s not only arrogant, it makes us sound so insecure (that we have to keep repeating it again and again whenever **** happens) and insensitive. That cartoon on the top demonstrates the point very well.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 3:20 am
That’s why I believe this “proud to be Pinoy” catchphrase was created only to cover up the actual feeling of insecurity and “bahala na” mentality of Filipinos. It serves no use at all, and may even be harmful.
[Reply]
Sh3lly Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
What’s worse, when you try to be sympathetic and say things like “As a Filipino, this incident has shamed me” they will attack you, calling you unpatriotic and telling you to leave the country “because we don’t need people like you here!”. Then when you criticize the performance of the PNP, they attack you AGAIN saying things like “Why don’t you join the PNP if you think you know better?” My goodness! Is this what we are reduced to?
All of a sudden, you have no right to be outraged or ashamed that our institutions do not work. Has it ever occurred to them that nothing will come out of being complacent, of just shutting up and not demanding more of our institutions?
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
They forgot their responsibility as citizens. For the longest time.
Pride doesn’t feed them or their large families. Their money that they give as tax to the goverment screw ups feeds them instead.
Like, anong kasalanan ng ibang tao sa mundo at kailangan natin ipwersa ang “kagalingan” at “kahusayan” natin sa kanila? Imho, if there’s something worth marketing to the world, then let us do so with all our combined national might and talent in pagyayabang. Kung wala, manahimik na lang. The world won’t get mad at the Philippines and its citizens for being humble.
[Reply]
Pinoys can get so proud of things they have little to do with and the little things they do have control over like values and consideration to others and the like they just totally butcher.
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/696/Filipino_Pride_a_photo_essay_
[Reply]
i’ve read an article somewhere na nagsasabing we are the happiest people. Smiling on the roof during typhoons etc.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 9:46 am
We’ve commented here that such happiness can be contrived, not the same as real happiness that can be gained under a more progressive country. The happiness ends though when someone dies.
In this case, someone was smiling on TV when foreign nationals died. The Chinese take it that the guy was smiling at the expense of foreign nationals’ lives.
[Reply]
One of the worst products of “Filipino Pride” are Yellow Nazis.They are still proud of PNoy even when he is facing worldwide criticism for at least,not giving a single rhetoric during the event.
And the fact that they somehow still find ways to blame CGMA for this strategy is really beyond me.
[Reply]
potaters Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 3:46 am
“One of the worst products of “Filipino Pride” are Yellow Nazis.”
Oh yeah, I know a Yellow Nazi. He wonders why the Chinese are so “angered” by this when it’s only a “few people” Oh yeah. That’s compassion for you.
[Reply]
@ ChinoF
Great article man. I’m going to make a video about these subjects. Keep up the good work.
[Reply]
Gardo Versausage Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Dude, may your video end up being seen by many. Give some extra thought to the subjects you choose…..then, hit ‘em hard!
Misplaced pride. That’s for losers.
Chino…..5-star article, man.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Really? Looking forward to the video when you’re done. And thanks for the praises. Damn, I really hope other people wake up to the kind of culture we have and that we should fix it.
[Reply]
What Pride is left for us? We have a Coward President in Malacanang Palace. Cowering in fear, and refusing to confront the Hostage Incident. Ironically; his Public Relation Machines are focusing on the Police, as the fall guys. The Lopez Media never touched the way the imbecile and coward President Noynoy Aquino dealt with the Hostage incident. We have OFWs working in all part of the globe; mistreated, underemployed and underpaid. We have a Mass Exodus of our Professionals, to foreign countries: the unstoppable Brain Drain. We have Scalawags. We have Whores used for political purposes. We have greedy business monopolists, using puppet politicians. We have bad guys and bad asses. Nothing is left to the Pride of Filipinos. Our cowering coward President has taken us to the drainage already. We are the laughing stock of the international community.
[Reply]
crust Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Isn’t bad-ass a complement (i.e. something to be proud of)?
[Reply]
@ Hyden Toro
The only way to deal with these tyrants in power is to drag them out. The time for reasoning is over. They have betrayed our Filipino race. The laws that the Philippines government has put in place is designed to protect them and not us. The only way to solve our problems is to kill all these tyrants for good.
[Reply]
Hyden Toro Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
More killings will not solve the problems. A wrong can never make things right. We have been deluded. We have been taken for a ride. We have voted a coward and incompetent President to rule over us. Now, he is dragging the whole country, as the butt of jokes; and as the laughing stock of the international community. International police Hostage Situation Analysts, are making us a “textbook case” of incompetence in the midst of a hostage crissis. What more can we ask for of this dire situation, we are in?…
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Well, that might seem a bit violent, so as a peaceful alternative, let’s go for charter change. Remove protectionism, and they’re cooked.
[Reply]
Gardo Versausage Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
I’m definitely in favor of removing protectionism…..and we can take a good guess as to which side would be more capable of resorting to a violent alternative to protect their interests, especially when they know they can get away with it.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
The tyrants exist because of the system. I don’t care how its done but Top-Down, bottom-up, whichever finishes first, Pinas definitely need a new system. The Gordons, Gibos, Perlas are going to continue to be passed over for fiestas, jingles, crap slogans and what not until the system changes to put priority on their ideas, not pinoy ideals.
[Reply]
Ryan Bosco Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
INCCultExposed wrote on 27 August, 2010, 12:21
@ Hyden Toro
The only way to deal with these tyrants in power is to drag them out. The time for reasoning is over. They have betrayed our Filipino race. The laws that the Philippines government has put in place is designed to protect them and not us. The only way to solve our problems is to kill all these tyrants for good.
*************************************
I agree with INCCultExposed when he said, “The only way to deal with these tyrants in power is to drag them out. The time for reasoning is over. They have betrayed our Filipino race. The laws that the Philippines government has put in place is designed to protect them and not us.”
However, I think the best way is not to kill them. But to simply boycott. If they are not getting their acts together, why should we participate in this hellish society or system? Stay home and cripple the country economically. I call this a “home strike” that will end up as a “home run” (nacks huh? i made that up just now
walang biro). But seriously, If Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and sparked the Civil Rights movement in America, I’m sure we can refuse to participate in the swindling of the oligarchs in our country.
Again, let’s organize and set up a date and stay home. Enough is enough.
[Reply]
Hyden Toro Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Our national hero, Jose Rizal simply stated” ” There are no Tyrants; where there are no Slaves.” Why did these Oligarchs and these Puppet Politicians have a hold on us? Can we shake ourselves out and get away from their grasp?
[Reply]
palebluedot_ Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Since the outburst these days is started by the police and made worse by the police, why not evaluate the next move through the Use of Force Continuum utilized by the US Govt:
Level I. Officer Presence
Level II. Verbal Commands
Level III. Empty Hand Control
Level IV. Pepper Spray, Baton, Taser
Level V. Less Lethal
Level VI. Deadly Force
To date, on what level is AP in dealing with the tyrants in power?
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Open Hand Control I guess… of a keyboard?
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@palebluedote- still “softening” the ground
awareness-stage – though, we have made substantial beachheads – and still reaching out to similarly-inclined individuals – working on a tipping point.
[Reply]
flor Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 4:53 am
killing or taking them out of their position will do….but how about killing innocent people in HK?does it make it worth?maltreatment and abused because of that incident ,will it change the facts?
[Reply]
This got me thinking a bit ChinoF. When Carolla came out, many people said it was unfair that his jokes insult the culture Philippine born Pinoys, consisting of balat sibuyas, chikn bonez, manny worshipping, true to life sleazy stories of sex trade (good ol Imbegistador with Mike E. on that) and trying to out-nigger Floyd mayweather. Belittling that tarnished the sagrado culture of the homeland, which what drives the manufactured national pride of Pinoys. In short, the defense is for everybody to respect the Pinoys by respecting their failed culture.
Then after the bus incident, the Chinese are certainly pointing out the obvious glaring flaws which offends them. In extreme ignorance Pinoys claim their culture should not be disrespected but when it comes to the point that it offends foreigners, they don’t admit to it and continue to harp on their misplaced pride. This certainly warrants the term douchebags of the globe with that kind of twisted belief.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Now Filipinos are receiving from Chinese what they gave Adam Carolla. Karma.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
more like rednecks and wetbacks of the world.
[Reply]
I like the cartoons, Chino F. How I wish I have a newspaper company to print them. It is nauseating when I read comments which contain “am proud to be a Pinoy”. I do not think that those people know and understand what those words mean. Proud of what exactly?
It is about time that Filipinos should think globally. The Philippines is already a multi-cultural society and we have to get rid of such nonsense nationalistic expression.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
@mel
Even regionalistic! Of course with Manila being the gateway of the country to the world, many assume Philippines is Manila or NCR. I mean how can Filipinos attempt to defend a national culture when the entire country is made of different cultures utilizing different languages?
[Reply]
mel Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
@Jay
Ditto. I am thinking if the Philippines will change the capital city to Cebu, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Subic, etc. perhaps this country can get away from the past and speedily move forward. Decentralize the branches of government. Why not try another culture than that of Manila and suburbs? In that way, integration can take place thus change.
[Reply]
@ Ryan Bosco
The civil rights movement in the US is run by Zionist Jews and the Jews run America today through their media that promotes race-mixing and tolerance.
@ ChinoF
Hi again. Well thanks for the support comrade! And by the way, I’m a Filipino National Socialist and I’m only 19 years old. As for the videos, I’m going to use the articles form this site to use for my video propaganda (truth). Here’s my YouTube Channel INCCultExposed.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
a Filipino Nazi? do you realize that if the the original Nazi – Hitler had his way – even Filipino Nazis will be burned in Auschwitz
[Reply]
mel Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
LOL!
Only a few will be left. Hitler got rid not only of the Jews but of his debilitated, insane and mentally retarded countrymen!
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
An anti-semetic pinoy? You gotta brush up on your Aryan concept considering much like many things that Hitler perverted for his own propaganda usage.
[Reply]
@ BongV
I know this is off topic but, Your statement is “politically correct”. First of all your being lied to. The Filipinos are desperate need for help right now in the Philippines and I do believe that National Socialism is the best and only system of government that will save our people.
As for Hitler, he was the best White leader the planet has ever seen despite all the holocaust lies being told about him.
But anyways, back to the main topic here, The Filipinos and the Philippines needs all the help they can. We need racial loyalty and we need to teach our people that religious cults are wrong and we need to teach them the Laws Of Nature most importantly, health and fitness, creativity etc etc.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Whoah, you a serious Aryanist dude? Makes me cringe if so. If you get my drift in my article, I find Filipino “pride” to be the similar to Nazi beliefs – we’re the master race, we’re superior, everyone else should bow down to us or die, etc. – and that sure is mighty evil. I hear you on religious cults, though if you’re serious about the Holocaust being a lie, I can’t go with that, dude. I agree with Bong on race having been debunked as a concept – there just ain’t no race anymore. All of humanity spread all over the earth is one race.
Well I agree on health and fitness and creativity. Let’s keep that up. At least you can see those aspects in AP articles (health and fitness of brain and creativity in ideas and writing).
[Reply]
INCCultExposed Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@ ChinoF
Don’t worry, I don’t support the idea of Aryanism. But anyway, people usually tell me that there is no such thing as race. Well their wrong. Here’s a video on the subject.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ePILrB11c
There is a lot of “politically incorrect” evidence for Race.
I must ask, how come we Filipino’s are so vulnerable to lies and deception for so long. It’s our Nature to be emotional beings sadly. How come the Europeans and the other orientals (Japanese, Koreans) do so well? it’s genetic that’s why.
As for Filipino pride, I myself am annoyed by my Filipino friends at my high school who say they are proud to be Pinoy, but there are a lot of flaws in our culture. Culture is the product of the race, not the other way around.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
How come the Europeans and the other orientals (Japanese, Koreans) do so well? it’s genetic that’s why.
Its culture. The Koreans have long been known to be scholars and respecting the value of education. The Chinese, with their very rich history certainly teaches contains wisdom from the past, including that of Sun Tzu. The Japanese just did the right things and turned their pride into national accomplishments. And Europe certainly has had its time and events that helped shape those countries, including strong leaders as well.
The kind of manufactured pride is somewhat new to Pinoys since they have not other national accomplishments to boast of since the 60′s, where they were laughing at the other countries ravaged from conflicts plus the aid of the United States.
They are also vulnerable to lies and deception because you have to remember the kind of mindset most pinoys came from and never evolved out of; the indios. What do you think of a government made up of mostly powerful regional families and celebrity figures? And then we ask who voted them in? That is right, the people who never looked for their own initiative and valued critical thinking and instead kept looking at those rich and elites with their lavish and material lifestyles. They never took it upon themselves to be responsible citizens, but instead talented in reacting and digging themselves deep in their own mire that they created.
BongV Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
no such things as “race”. already proved by human genome project.
mel Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
@INCCultExposed
Oh my gulay! I wish I could bring you to the Concentration Camp in Dachau and Ausschwitz in Germany and leave you alone there so you will have enough time to inform you about “The Holocaust”! Young man of 19 years old, the Holocaust is not a lie!
You can teach the laws of nature but you do not have to kill people for that. There is a better way, and that is democracy. Try it out.
[Reply]
ulong pare Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
… daaang @exposed naman namannn… what flips need is to “enforce the current laws”… flipland has all the laws plagiarized from all civilized countries… the guts to implement it is missing… kasi, flips are devout katolickdick weaklings… they like to be spanked… i do… by sexy gurlz…,
[Reply]
This is probably going to be for another article, but the issue between the hard work that PGMA (the former hated president) who by the way it looks dealt very well with foreign relations in contrast with Noynoy who (the people’s CHUMP-ion) is burning bridges with disregard. And the apologists/idiots deflecting the real issue and defending the Pinoy side of the failure.
Neither Noynoy or the people know anything about diplomacy. Its like their idea of peace is an olive branch with a note that says we are still right. And with their collective LACK of knowledge of what diplomacy should be, many pinoys are trying to play the status quo with the everyone messes up/its an isolated incident, but at the same time voicing their concerns about OFWs in China.
So for those who chime in about that Philippines don’t need the world, why do you have so many of the kababayans being concerned about the chief export of the country, the OFWs? Without diplomacy and foreign relations, all that crap about pinoys being hard, dillgent workers go down the drain because the foreign workers are going to get canned.
[Reply]
ulong pare Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
… daaaang @jay: ate glo prostituted flips all over the world as the world’s SUPERMAIDs>>> from angola to zimbabwe… instead of inviting FDI, she exported flips to thin out flips and make room for her fellow magnanakaws’ gated commune, and of course, the much needed milyong remittance for her entourage opisyal travels aka shopping sprees. enter prez gung gong who if not for his political genes, could not quality and be hired as a street sweeper in ‘tang inang imperial manila… so, in conclusion, the world needs flipland…. can you imagine recalling all SUPERMAIDs deployed around the globe… civlilized world would be lost… they all would stink!…. no hugas pfwets!??? oh no???/ what to do????
[Reply]
I think it is also pride that old politicians cannot give up their public positions and power. Do not get me wrong, I have nothing against old people in this society but the Senate and the Congress is full of what they call veterans in politics. Cannot these old politicians retire and give way to fresh minds? We have mandatory retirement age (60 to 65 according to the Labor Code) except for Supreme Court Justices (70 years old). Politicians who reached their retirement ages should be enjoying their lives or just serve as intellectual advisers.
We have a lot of talented and dynamic citizens out there who are losing the opportunities to serve this country and often, they opt to go abroad instead of wasting their time and energy in this country.
[Reply]
mel Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
I forgot to mention that above thoughts came into my mind as I read the news saying Mayor Lim (born 1929) was on top of the situation. I personally will not expect an eighty (80-year old man) to be dynamic and flexible during crisis situations. His denial of the arrest order by saying he just ordered to handcuff the hostage-taker’s brother is laughable and is not a sign of a sane mind. Instead of admitting his mistakes and taking responsibility of what happened, he ended up protecting his own pride.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 4:03 am
He didn’t order the arrest but ordered the handcuffs put on… isn’t that arresting anyway? Hehehe, senility all right. To think I voted for him back in 1998.
[Reply]
absolutely true. sana kumalat ‘tong artik na ‘to sa buong mundo.
[Reply]
I’m from India and lived in the PH, I see the same problem in India and PH..the so called “pride”…During mumbai attack by terrorist couple of years back, more than 300 people died by the utter lack of communication between different agencies, pathetic attempt to rescue the hostages etc etc. More than 50 were foreigners
I see a very similar situation that led to the deaths of innocents in PH. Incompetence and corruption…inspite of all this…what the TV channels were broadcasting was exactly this ” Indian pride” “Rich cultural history of India” “Whatever happens India will stand tall” etc etc…instead of figuring out what went wrong and correcting the mistakes….everyone was saying, they can kill us but can’t destroy our “pride”.
People in power do not understand what common people are….I have researched it over and over again and i think only conspiracy can save us. There is definitely a conspiracy …look at the facts…the freedom fighters of both India and PH were freemasons…Rizel and Nehru were both freemasons, Chairman Mao was a freemason, washington was a freemason, all south american presidents after world war 2 were freemasons.
This is a secret society that workships satan, they take part in blood rituals, child sacrifices all over the world.
If we do a couple of hours research on the net on freemasons…we will know why this is all happening….the same people who control PH, control India, China, europe and US. I don’t think anything will change anywhere….innocent will be killed everywhere as long as these secret socities exists.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Thanks for sharing your view of the incidents in India… I see some Indians do it wrong too. I don’t buy the Freemason conspiracy theory though. Perhaps they have done some good in leading to the free market environment today. I know Jose Rizal was a Freemason, but his ideas are well appreciated here. I believe more innocents will be killed as long as they don’t accept the free market environment and let the the control of a few oligarchs take them over.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 6:48 am
freemasons… oh the dignified boy scouts – unfortunately I don’t subscribe to GAOTU
[Reply]
What I saw recently circulating is an article that Filipinos (with surname Madrigal) were purportedly killed during the Tienanmen massacre in 1989. Parallels daw between Tienanmen and Luneta. Another idiotic blog posted this when I visited.
So what’s the point of this? To excuse the killing of the hostages in Luneta? Just because their people killed some of ours during their unrest, do we have the right to kill theirs? The only point of this is to play down the responsibility of Filipinos in the current debacle. That is very irresponsible. Filipinos will always remain responsible for what happened in August 23, 2010, and the Chinese have the right to be angry at us and our failure of a culture.
Sorry, the parallels idea fails. Aside from the few Filipinos there, MANY Chinese died too. In the bus massacre, only Chinese nationals died. What parallels?
[Reply]
crust Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 8:40 am
You’re talking about this one?
http://houseonahill.net/a-note-from-a-cousin-in-law-about-filipinos-violently-killed-in-beijing-five-years-ago/
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Yes, it’s been circulating lately, but can anyone confirm whether it’s true? It smells like another hoax.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Darned, I thought it happened in 1989 because of the Tiananmen name, but then I realize it was a vacationing tourist’s nightmare. Still, is it really true?
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Then people use the status-quo ideal and pretend nothing happen, since they felt the ineptitude on both sides cancel each other out (or something). As much as death is natural, I then go back to those words of Stan Lee: “With great power, comes great responsibility”.
From a country that harps about abortion as murder, I’m surprised they didn’t feel compelled that the authorities certainly had the power to save those lives and they didn’t, they certainly are responsible for the safety of those in the city they primarily serve in. If the hostages were saved and Mendoza incapacitated, different outcome, Chinese may complain but the bottom line saves the country from embarrassment. And we go beyond what every country accepts as the status-quo for isolated incidents.
I give you a thumbs up. If only the eyes of our fellow Filiipinos would be opened.
[Reply]
To paraphrase Dona Delilah (Dely Atay-Atayan) to her hapless na “manugang” John Puruntong (Dolphy), “pride na lang na pride, aber pride chicken ang inuwian mo ngayon?”
[Reply]
Hi writers of this fine piece of online real estate. I would just like to ask if any of you are aware or have read “God Wants You Dead”, a book that deals with ‘ideas’ people hold in their heads. The way your articles read would suggest that you have a firm grasp of the concepts presented in this book.
Cheers,Zach
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Haven’t seen, but sounds interesting, thanks for the idea.
[Reply]
You know what? That phrase doesn’t even appeal to me anymore. The reaction that makes me want to shout PI to all those people is this: “tama lang yan sa mga chekwa dahil s pagmamaltrato nila sa atin..” or “Bakit sila ba pinagagalitan natin pag may ginawa sila satin?” I see this circulating around fb every single minute. i guess the stupid people didn’t learn from the incident. That injustice cannot be solved with injustice. I didn’t see that kind of attitude when someone tweeted that the Filipinos deserved to die during Ondoy.. How ironic, Filipinos can be so sensitive and yet when they do insensitive crap like taking pictures in front of the bus, their sensitivity is gone..
I remember what my brother said: “We are the biggest Catholic country in Asia but for a country that’s supposed to be humble, there’s not one drop of humility in our bloods..”
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I like that clever quote.
I feel your sentiments. From Ondoy to Carolla among other things, Pinoys are great when getting attention and piety for their own selves. But when it comes to giving it, nah uh. Fekkin double standard. Pinoys will be offended if you disrespect their culture. But they don’t feel indignity when they accidentally disrespect another nation’s culture.
And why not, they ignore the other cultures (visayas, mindanao, northern luzon) on a daily basis and keep harping where they come from is what represents the country.
[Reply]
arnz Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Good point there.. And to think that these proud Filipinos are more educated than the other cultures but how come their sense of thinking is so poor
[Reply]
I came upon this site inadvertently when my wife and I were looking at some “major, major” vids on youtube. Suddenly a message appeared at the end of a clip about the ‘stupid Filipino’, and I was embarrassed for my wife, a decent Filipina. Later I went to the website to nose around, curious about a site proclaiming to be ‘anti-pinoy’…and I discovered a lively conversation among intelligent people. Yet I rapidly became disenchanted with what I was reading, seeing it as escapism by individuals who are filled with self-loathing, or as simple intellectual masturbation!
Do something! Everyday that I live here, I am assaulted by the ignorance of the arrogant ‘kuya’s’; their shiftlessness, incompetence, servility, and swagger. They need leaders, not talkers who sit behind computers! This culture is bankrupt, a vile legacy of the colonialism of Spain and ‘Holy Mother Church’! It creates infantilized braggarts, crass materialists, and overweening slaves—in short nothing worth respecting!
Some of you have mentioned race as an issue—bull****! That is a 19th c. concept created by us when we were ‘categorizing’ you! Humans are ‘human’, and while geography and culture can have some minor influence on evolution—I just had a pinoy/euro baby, and she is just human! Ultimately when you invoke race as an issue, you justify your weakness—shame on you! And for the ‘Nazi Pinoy’…bat **** crazy my friend! The Nazi’s would have sent you up the flue just like 9 millions ‘others’. Finally, don’t assume dictatorship, or a ‘man on a white horse’ can save the situation—if Park Chung Hee was the ‘good dictator’, personally more interested in the ‘national interest’ than his own personal interest, he is a rare example—not a model.
On the issue of culture, which some of you touched upon—good start! That is what is wrong here, and a cultural revolution led from among the bourgeoisie is necessary. If you look at our history, 500 years ago we were just like you—enthrall to ‘Holy Mother Church’ and the aristocracy. Yet some among the educated middle began to question things, tear down old beliefs, and generally shatter the old medieval consensus. And when attacked, (as of course they were) these individuals bravely said, “Here I stand” and died if necessary for what was right! So today we are admired (and quietly hated) for our power—it sure as hell didn’t come from the actions of the ‘kuya’s’, instead it arose out of that middle group, (some peasants—but all educated), leading them—You!!!!
So this is a call to arms—not the violent kind, but a war of the ‘right’ ideas! Lift yourself up, and lead. Or, as an old American saying has it, “get out of the way”. Please make my daughter be able to say one day with pride that she is a Filipino……
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Thanks for your comment here. I agree with you… “a cultural revolution led from among the bourgeoisie is necessary.” It’s the bourgeoisie, elite, upper class, and similar that influence the country. Not that drivel saying, “the poor have power.” The poor are manipulated by the local bourgeoisie through the dumbening media. They reinforce us with false concepts of pride – such as the pride of being poor. Who in his right mind wants to be proud of being poor? It’s time to reform our idiotic culture.
Also, proud to be Pinoy was probably created to cover up for inferiority complex, since there’s nothing more to be proud of anymore.
Glad you passed the litmus test of our blogsite name. We’re not the “anti-pinoys,” they’re the ones we talk about.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
@encomendero
Its going to take time and effort. Rome wasn’t built in a day and certainly the Peenoy brainwash isn’t easy to shake off. But we have the technology and the resources.
The self loathing is natural, if anything slightly better than the complete opposite which is as the author coined in another article, Pleasantry addicts.
I’m not sure if cultural revolution is the right name for what is desired. Mao coined a cultural revolution and it set China back 40 years from their potential (which another 20 years they are the economic power of the globe). I like the term social upheaval better. There is some acceptable things in pinoy culture but the problem is the priority of values of the pinoy society. The maki isa, pakikisama, majority wins and conformist crap is garbage. How about we embrace team work, initiative, critical thinking, common sense and solidarity (ung hindi pinag pipili-an).
Yeah, now I think of it the machinations of a false national pride is to cover up the inferiority complex.
[Reply]
Lest we forget:
Proud to be Filipino
= Proud to be subject of King Philip of Spain, after whom our country was named.
[Reply]
Excellent comment from a friend on FB:
“It’s always easy to say you are proud about something without ever really caring about it. The majority who says that they are proud to be Pinoys are mostly the ones contributing to the current deterioration of the Philippines.
For me, pride in being a Filipino is best shown in action, not in words. If you’re doing that, you don’t need to say it ’cause it shows.”
[Reply]
Expat from TW Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 10:30 am
>The majority who says that they are proud to be Pinoys are mostly the ones contributing to the current deterioration of the Philippines.
In other words, Such Pinoys really are the “Anti-Pinoys”. Very ironical…
[Reply]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MktlfjFb3j0
geoge carlin on being proud
[Reply]
Yes…I was aware that the country was given the name of Philip of Spain–so you are all, in effect, his ‘children’….fitting! So wherever ‘pinoy’ came from (is it original malay?) and not a transliteration of ‘filipino’, then I understand its use. But that is an example of the ‘cultural revolution’ (again, I am aware of the associations with Mao) that i was talking about! That word (philippines/filipino) is a ‘badge’ of colonialism, a symbol of the intellectual oppression of this country. It is a form of cultural/linguistic imperialism, a daily reminder of that shame–and a type of mental prison of the imagination (someone else defines the residents here!)
When I was a child learning the geography of the world (not as long ago as that statement sounds) the map contained names like, Burma, Ceylon, Peping, and Bombay. Today those places have retaken control of their langauge/culture and are known as, Mynamar, Sri Lanka, Beiing, and Mumbai. When will the residents of this land free themselves from that mental imperialism–that is one aspect of the cultural revolution that I was talking about.
Finally, Chino, the ‘bourgeoisie’ are the ‘middle class’….not the elites/hacienderos/aristocracy…they are the class that having nothing to gain from social change. Meanwhile, the middle class have something to gain from social change, and unlike the ‘lower orders’, they have the education, and some means to effect it…….
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Ah, thanks for clarifying your concept of ‘bourgeoisie’ … but I still agree! We have a weak middle class in this country, while more successful countries have a strong middle class.
You seem to be one who thinks we should remove influences of colonialism on our country, including our name. I do not agree with removing “Filipino” and foreign influences, because they are part of our identity. Screw Teodoro Agoncillo, he was a nutcase for saying we should remove all foreign influences and go back to our tribal/primitivist roots. We should embrace our foreign influences and use them to make our country better. Look for my article here called “Stop looking for the ‘Pure’ Filipino” for more of my view on this topic.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:55 am
Thing is while institutions and people are trying to create trends for what the identity of the Philippines should be, the answer is already there. We are who we are, a diverse mix of different origins that have come and gone and a culture that is as diverse as each of the 7,107 islands. I can understand where he’s coming from about the mental shackles, as we have discussed how the Pinoys don’t know how much democracy and independence means because they have never honestly fought for it. They never desired for these things that were handed down to them so they assume what those with the knowledge are correct with whatever they say. But as I agree with you, those shackles aren’t the be all/end all. While the Philippines now tries to create an identity through inferiority complex, they should instead do it with promoting the strength of diversity.
[Reply]
ethanS Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I’d like to see the term “Philippines” changed, though, to “North Malaya.”
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I’m not for it. But I’ll ask… what’s South Malaya then? Indonesia?
noremedies Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:08 am
I say, it’s Mindanao (assuming they separate from the country)
El Caballero Tagalo Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 8:01 am
@ ethanS: Hispanophobia much?
Any attempt to replace the current name with that perceived as more “indigenous” or “less colonial” will only end up a folly. Another problem is that we do not recognize and acknowledge the role of Hispanic language and culture in shaping the Filipino identity.
I say let the name “Filipinas”/”Philippines” remain. Unless we really want complete emancipation of all ethnic groups in the country (I’m all game for a “Katagalugan” state anyway).
So there’s this girl called Lara Santos.A lot of Flips hate her just because she felt humiliated of being Filipino and lost her pride in being one.
But of course,Flips get mad for “the act of treason”.
Here’s her fan page designed to hate her by the way
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lara-Santos-is-a-disgrace-to-Filipinos/109098735813358?ref=mf
You could really see the Filipino Pride by reading the posts of our Flip countrymen.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:51 am
If only Facebook had a legitimate Dislike button.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:54 am
How do I get to Lara Santos’ post? I wanna see so I’ll know if I can like it.
[Reply]
innagadda54 Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I totally agree about dislike button.
Facebook promotes vanity and inarticulateness by it’s very design. You can’t dislike. Blog has minimal features so they are called notes.
My beefs about it here:
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/730/Half_Blood_Prince_and_Other_Book_to_Movie_Ideas
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:57 am
I’m not sure of the validity of Lara Santos there, unless there is a source of her website. I saw that pic they are arguing about awhile back in another image forum.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Decided to go in those hate groups and post links to AP articles, as well as my dissenting opinion. “Undercover” agent mode!
[Reply]
noremedies Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I think she went overboard. It’s one thing to be ashamed of being a flip, and another labeling every Filipino a “half-monkey.”
[Reply]
I’ve seen so many comments like “Pinoy Ako!” everywhere, sounds like “Stupid Ako!” to me.
The more you guys comment back like that, the more other people feel like that.
Please post more intelligent comments.
I guess other people are angry at those stupidity and found them actually stupid.
“Pinoy ako!” means “Stupid Ako!” now. You must stop this.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 3:49 am
I don’t want “Pinoy ako” to mean that, but with what has happened, it really seems that way. Filipinos must really humble themselves before the world.
[Reply]
Does anybody proofread your articles? I’m not even a writer but I noticed a couple grammatical errors in this particular one. I just discovered this site and agree to your objectives, that is why I like to share some of your posts to friends, but the errors can lower your credibility. I hope you take this as a constructive criticism. Peace!
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Thanks… but don’t you think substance is more important than form? And even if you say “one plus one equal two,” the grammatical/spelling error doesn’t make it any less credible?
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 3:15 am
pointing it out will go a long way in making it even more credible, usls.
[Reply]
To be honest, this article written here in ap is a real eye opener. But there is another article which shows a different perspective. Here is the link:
http://thirstythought.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/what-do-you-mean-only-in-the-philippines/
The article is written by Trixie Cruz-Angeles. Please comment after reading.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Trixie’s crap was ripped apart – in case you haven’t been to her threads
[Reply]
New Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Yes i haven’t seen that specific thread. Can you show me the links to it? There are a lot of posts in the net about trixie’s article so its hard to find threads linking to it.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I went to the Facebook version of it.
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 10:59 am
I saw that thread too. I’m afraid Trixie’s post is defensively biased, and fits the brainwashed “pride” attitude I was talking about here.
[Reply]
noremedies Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am
“Of course P/Insp R. Mendoza comitted a criminal act. Of course the police officers and media persons and networks could have handled matters in a more sensitive and timely manner. But it also especially hurts when these mistakes are ascribed as national traits. Only in the Philippines daw. And only Filipinos could screw up this badly.”
Well, there’s three sectors in our society- the media, the state, and the people, and all of them contributed to the worsening of an already escalated situation. I think it showed a lot of our cultural obscurities – being mediocre, insensitive, gossiper, or screw-ups. Hell, it did reflect on the vast majority of our people, didn’t it?
If you say these things outside this safe haven that is AP, you’d definitely get flamed. “STFU, makitid utak!,” “kung ayaw mo dito, umalis ka!,” “Di ka ba Pinoy?!” — as if our country needs no criticisms, being close to perfect.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
good point noremedies. With their paranoia, they put criticism with reklamo together that speaking against the government or the people in general gets censored by those kind of stupid comebacks, which are also discussion killers.
It doesn’t get anymore biased when one of the statements read
“This nation produced women leaders and warriors when much of Europe still considered the female gender as mere chattel”
If she’s trying to piss on the leadership skills of Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great or even Bouedica with female tribal leaders, she has certainly gone full retard.
Oh and more gems-
“My country, whose history and treasures remain mysteries to its own children, cannot and should not be defined by the mistakes of yesterday’s events”
I think she forgot the 500,000 other yesterdays before yesterdays events. As if she had the right to choose. Sorry but beggars can’t be choosers!
You speak about humility but i never saw any sign of it in the whole article.
we see things depending on our point of view. we see Filipinos being proud because we, ourselves, are proud.
Seeing the whole picture, and putting it in context, you’ll discover that Filipinos feel so inferior that’s why we have colonial mentality, that’s why we want to live abroad, that’s why we dream to be employed outside the country, that’s why all we see is our weaknesses. we are hopeless because we believe we are. and this is one of the articles that really, really helps us a lot. thank you, for not being proud to be a Filipino…you deserve not to be.
I’m not defending those who have committed grave mistakes, particularly regarding the hostage incident. But the that crisis was a fault everyone. It’s a societal problem. I am part of it.You, too. And the last thing that can solve our problem, is by blaming/condemning the whole race. Yes, we must be humble and we must apologize. Yes, what happened was wrong. Yes, our system is corrupted. Yes, we are not a great nation. But we can be…if some people (especially Filipino people thamselves) would not humilate their own kind.
[Reply]
Aegis-Judex Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 8:12 am
How is that possible, then? The average Flip lacks in thinking skills.
[Reply]
Expat from TW Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Maybe you can’t directly change your country, but you can change yourself.
Do you remember the movie, “Pay It Forward”?
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 11:12 am
You seem to have a different view of humility, my friend. Speaking boldly in criticizing other Filipinos using the truth does not lack humility.
For me, Filipinos are not inferior because of colonial mentality (I don’t believe colonial mentality is actually a problem). It’s because of the insularism our culture brainwashes us with in addition to the poverty that our current economic system throws upon us. And it’s also because of the drivel the local media puts into our heads.
Why Filipinos dream to work and abroad is not because of inferiority. Plain and simple is that the economic opportunities are better there! Here, the economic opportunities are crappy! More economic opportunities means more freedom and a better life. If we had a fully liberalized economy under a decentralized government, we would be doing better. And the bus hostage crisis would never have happened.
When you say, “if some people (especially Filipino people themselves) would not humiliate their own kind,” I hope you’re referring to Mendoza, Andrew Cunanan, Rep. Singson and others pulling our country down, not us.
[Reply]
ethanS Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
The Islands seems to be a capitalist version of NK…uber-restrictive businesses, bullcrap gov’t, mindf***ed masses. The catch is, you can get away with it if you’re Flip by going abroad.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 12:43 am
With the kind of government we have now, it’s certainly like NK. We have a Kim Jong Il-esque president who likes to smile even when others are in trouble.
as what chinoF said.. i remember a blog shown on one of bob ong’s book about the weakness of our filipino culture
di na makapagtataka kung magdusa an ang pilipino sa ibang bansa dahil sa mababang tingin sa knila ng mga tao roon. Gusto man nating sabihing mali ang pagkakakilala sa ating mga pilipino. mahirap pa ring itanggi ang mga nilalaman ng mga balita at statistics. Sino at ano nga ba ang PILIPINO? wala man masama sa pagiging laborer paano mo sasabihin sa taga ibang bansa na hindi klahat ng pilipino ay laborer? Gaano nga ba kaganda maipipinta ang bayan mo sa papel na maraming mantsa? paano mo pagtatakpan ang mga paliwanag ang mga balitang nagsusumigaw?
this were some lines showing that our culture is very weak and we do not commit mistakes at least we say “sorry” and “pasensya na po” even that our mistakes need punishment.. also i agree that pride conquers our culture because were not ashamed even though some were showed shame others were still scolding each other. that is what foreigners see in ourselves and that is a factor that affects our progress.. we can’t accept our mistake else we say sorry.. for me i’m not ashame for being a filipino but i’m ashamed for what our culture had. i know that now matter what will happen, i can’t change our culture.. i’m not mentioning all of our culture but some of our disgraceful attitudes that we have in our culture that applied in our daily lives even in our government.
[Reply]
Miriam Quiamco Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Carlin was right in my opinion and he directed this comment to his fellow Americans who always say they are proud of their country and get defensive when America is bad-mouthed. In the case of the U.S., the sense of pride in their system of government, in their way of life, in their national ideals could be lethal for other nations especially when a jingoistic president like George Bush gets elected to the highest office of the land. Certainly, having a sense of pride that is not based on a personal accomplishment but on a collective sense of who a group of people are is at times necessary for psychical survival.
When a country feels insecure, threatened, emasculated, beleaguered for a variety of reasons, a people may cling to something imaginary and not based on reality to be able to go on with their lives. It is not uniquely Filipino to say they are proud of their country over something as trivial as identifying with the personal accomplishments of Pineda, Charice and Pacquiao, in the absence of grander collective national accomplishments. In Russia, U.S. or China, people are proud of their national origins because of achievements in science, economics and in politics. There is a reason why Carlin was concerned about the national pride of Americans, it could be very destructive and it is also not warranted, but somehow, it is part of the natural course of things. The Filipinos who keep saying, I am proud I am Pinoy because of Venus Raj, Pacquiao, Charice, Pineda, et al, cannot be condemned for saying it, we as a people are in desperate need to be proud of something to keep on going.
This is especially true for OFWs whose pride they have had to swallow, giving up on professional careers back home to work as domestics or in lowly and difficult jobs, but pay higher than their professional jobs in the Philippines. I believe, it is natural and harmless, but laughable. Personally, I feel sorry for Filipinos who verbalize this bankrupt sentiment whenever I hear it. I am proud of certain qualities of Filipinos, their selflessness and collective concern for the motherland even if they are in a faraway land. But just like with anything, we should not turn any sense of pride into an ideology that could imprison us, we need to practice critical self-reflection.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I think our culture is used to saying “sorry” and “pasensya na po” often because of the low standards and mediocrity we here at AP know too well. As Daniel Wagner said, we fail to demand more from ourselves, and so results from Filipino acts (when not supervised by foreigners) are often sloppy. People who are tired of saying “sorry” and “pasensya na po” will resort to saying “Proud to be Pinoy,” which only worsens the reputation of mediocrity, adding an air of arrogance to it. Now apply that to the bungle that was the bus hostage crisis… we’re now seen as the most arrogant bunglers in the world. Because it’s true.
[Reply]
Napanood ko yung video ni George Carlin about pride. Ito yung isa sa mga sinabi nya:
“…And I could never understand ethnic or national pride cause to me pride should be reserved for something you achieved or obtain on your own, not something that happens by accident of birth…”
Is he correct? If he is correct, can this statement also be applicable to HUMILITY? Should I humble myself because of something my countrymen did?
Enlighten me…
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 11:53 am
You know, since we are a former American colony, I wonder if we get the style we say “Proud to be Pinoy” from the Americans. They’ve got that culture wherein they’re proud to be American… and they can back it up because they’re the most powerful country in the world. Their media also shows a lot of patriotism, flag-waving, and “truth, justice and the American way” stuff, and that rubbed off on us. So, even if we’re dirt poor, we imitated with the “Proud to be Pinoy” thing. Thing is, our slogan is empty because we have nothing to back it up.
Now Carlin is criticizing “We’re proud to be American” because it is likely becoming emptier over the times. Their country is becoming notorious around the world (especially in Muslim countries), it’s economy has crashed and citizens are continually disillusioned with the government (giving rise to Kennedy, Illuminati and Freemason conspiracy theories).
My friend was right. Being proud is like being humble. You don’t have to say it. Just show it.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Its just empty because by reason, you can’t be proud of an accident. You being born as whatever ethnic background you are is not a product of calculated effort, but on genetic chance. Or being born with a genetic disease, or a handicap. He is correct by saying you are happy, sad, whatever emotion because of these circumstances. You can be proud of what other people do, but you can’t take that as your own like what many of the kababayans do. They take Manny’s accomplishments, say its OURS as if the entire country was part of his team when they are nothing more than glorified cheerleaders. They aren’t the ones in the ring taking on Marquez, knocking down Diaz and Cotto yet they feel that they should be the ones getting in the ring with Mayweather, trying to egg him on or racially insult him since they don’t like his swagger. Same with Charice as they try to bandwagon her. They aren’t the ones singing in front of a sold out tv show crowd.
By being able to accomplish something by yourself, you understand the effort, ethics and discipline – positive values that culminated to achieving those goals, including being humble. And you certainly can take pride in that! The problem is when all you have to begin with is pride, then you set yourself up for the fall.
The most humble thing you can certainly do is understand the situation as best as possible. That it isn’t about what our country men did, but what they didn’t do right. And I take pride in pointing it out to many prideful pinoys, knowing they will strongly disagree and possibly chastise me and continue feeding on something that will never fill them up.
[Reply]
On the issue of ‘names’, are you familiar with ‘identity politics’? Names and labels do matter–as many americans have come to realize. The idea is that a name exercises some control over an individual, and if that name is freighted with negative connotations, like, negro or indian, then the individual feels demeaned and powerless. So these groups chose their own names, and begin the process of defining who they are–instead of having their identity being defined for them by the dominate group. The Philippines is a colonial culture that never had a chance to define itself. Does that mean that filipinos should reject everything after Magellan–of course not! But a better sense of what all that means, and what part of that legacy supports a positive future, is necessary.
Finally, the issue of national pride. Why not be proud of the true heroes of your people–not the bull**** movie stars, celebrities, and models–but the OFW’s! Lowly and unremarkable maybe, but it is their sacrifice that keeps this country afloat, and supports the aspirations of tens of millions!
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
In identity politics, I agree that diversity is what the Philippines should embrace, instead of a homogenous, centralized culture – which leads to the screw-ups we have today.
Yep, the heroes of the masses are the bullcrap stars and celebrities… media is the enemy here.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Well according to Carlin, you can’t be proud of an accident. You can only be proud of achievements and accolades. I think the prob is even the media parlay the pride regarding the OFWs, like they made it or something. Though considering their remittances amount to much of the economy of the country as well, they certainly deserve some measure of respect and gratitude. But in a sense, the pinoys can’t even be proud of their OWN accomplishments which to them isn’t measurable by Media standards. So they look to what media considers as having achieved when their ability to set goals and accomplish them is just as worthy of their own pride.
Because when you are poud for your own accomplishments, you don’t look into other peoples’ accomplishments for your own pride. You see what worked in accomplishing those goals and focus on that end.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 1:53 am
I also think you can be happy about your accomplishments without being proud. Yet even in accomplishments, yeah, many Filipinos don’t do it right. Someone else accomplishes something good and you’re proud of it because the accomplisher shares something common with you (even if it’s not related to the accomplishment at all). But if you keep yapping about it, it even seems like you’re stealing the credit for that person’s accomplishment. Another view is that the accomplisher “owes” you for his accomplishment. Both are stupid. The accomplisher does the accomplishment, not the supporter.
Probably there was too much of this, “I owe it all to my fans” cliche, and it got to the fans’ heads.
As an american, I have noticed that this country does seem to try to emulate the US…but with often pathetic results. The Philippines is not the US, and never will be. It is its own country, and it has its own way. The sooner filipinos accept that fact, the more contented they will be…….
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Yes. Bungling imitators. That’s what the Filipinos are often… we fail to emulate the right and we follow things the wrong way. It doesn’t just happen in local TV. Our Senate is a good example. Senators in the U.S, are locally elected representatives. But our senators here are nationally elected. Big flaw.
Sometimes it makes me wonder whether Filipinos are trying to be successful in achieving things the wrong way (all the while conscious that it is wrong), while invoking the name of God to help them succeed. It’s part of the culture too.
[Reply]
The Philippine Guild Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Check out Jim Paredes’ poor attempt at being inspired by America again just to connect the Philippines and the US and earn the unnecessary respect for Filipinos in the process: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=606993&publicationSubCategoryId=86
[Reply]
noremedies Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I’m disgruntled by some intelligent people – or educated, that is- who refers to the hostage crisis as an accident that could have happened anywhere in the world. If there’s one thing to compare, it’s the inevitability of the event, nothing else, while their differences are painted all over the picture – incompetence, lack of action, media abuse, etc.
[Reply]
Pinoy pride? Eh media and the press nga ang nauuna to step on the toes of the Pinoy. ‘Pag may news report sila, they unnecessarily tag the guilty party as Muslim or Chinese Filipino. Sensationalized journalism. Why can’t we call Filipinos just Filipinos? Ah kasi divisive ang current state of the Pinoy mentality which is led by a president na laging nagtataray — tinarayan si Angue, tinatarayan si GMA, tinarayan ang Japan, etc.
[Reply]
This is weird. I don’t see any SWS or Pulse Asia releasing surveys these days. Very weird? Holding out until the massacre mayhem is clear? So yellowish.
[Reply]
On humility. I remember an excerpt from Professor Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture at Carnegie Mellon University.
When his father died and they went through his things, he and his mother discovered that his father had been awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Neither of them had ever known. For 50 years, it had just never come up.
Now I don’t know about you but I think fighting in something like the Battle of the Bulge, surviving, getting awarded a medal for valor, and not bringing it up on your own says a lot about what humility is.
As an aside, has anyone else watched that Last Lecture? Brilliant stuff! Life changing in fact. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
It’s an hour long though. He gave a shorter version on Oprah so you can check that out if you don’t have the time.
[Reply]
This could be another failure of Filipino pride.
Miss Philippines 2010 vs. irony: The answer that cost her Miss Universe
http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/08/miss-philippines-2010-vs-irony-the-answer-that-cost-her-miss-universe.html
>I’m very confident with my family and the love they give me
Misunderstand and go own way,
Then okay, you lose if you don’t care…
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
More like a competence problem for me (I mentioned Venus Raj under the Peter Principle article of BongV). It’s not so bad though, I just don’t find the Ms. Universe thing that important. Besides, It’s just a commercial vehicle. I can get better girls elsewhere.
[Reply]
I have a niece. Born in Vancouver. Going to school in Vancouver (Film Department University of British Columbia.)
She has never lived here. She has never gone to school here. She received no Filipino funding or labor. Yet they are claiming her entry in the Montreal World Film Festival as an “RP film”.
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20100829-289423/Four-RP-films-in-Montreal
Grasping at straws.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Anyone in America and know baseball probably followed Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants pitcher. No Pinoy really cared until someone looked into it and that he is a half pinoy. Then every pinoy is getting into celebrating about how he won Cy young and how successful he is for his age and probably use him as a new example for how pinoys can be successful anywhere in the world.
Some brave and smart soul pointed out in the comments when they wrote Tim doesn’t has have as much knowledge of his pinoy culture. So why consider him part of it? was sadly met with the same old accusation of crab mentality from Pinoy pariahs. I bet they are still proud of him when they find out he’s a pot head.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Hmmm, looks like Pinoys are seizing every chance to be proud of something… and any remote connection to the Philippines is jumped upon to make it Pinoy. Sign of desperation.
[Reply]
What happened in the Philippines had happened in the rest of the world. I considered it an isolated case however, losing lives of the innocent individuals has no excuse to such hilarious situation. I humbly apologized to the families of the innocent victims. The Philippines has done all its prudent effort to show the world that Philippines did everything to correct all the mistakes and gave solidarity offering. A thorough investigation is on the way including the Hongkong Forensics.
I would like to call all Filipinos to stop name blaming and that crap attitudes to further destroy our already pit below reputation. I am OFW and still love my country Philippines. I know this is not the end but this will just be the beginning of another challenging episode of our existence as a country. The President calls on every Filipinos for Patriotism. I don’t like the president but he’s now in power and I have to respect him for the sake of my country. In times like this we should unite and help one another to restore our once tarnished image. Wherever we are around the globe we are still Filipinos and we only have our country and that is Philippines.
[Reply]
am i not being punished enough for being born a filipino?… my fellow countrymen disgust me…
“filipino pride” is just an illusion
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 2:23 pm
The Filipino’s worst enemy… is always another Filipino (like Mendoza). That’s one reason why being Filipino is an unfortunate circumstance, and it punishes you.
For others, on the worst enemy… that’s not us. Just look around you.
[Reply]
Expat from TW Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:21 am
I analyzed Filipinos and found they never admit their faults.
I mean, very often we have to admit it or apologize and are responsible even if it is not our direct mistakes.
But people here never think they are to blame because not intentional.
Ex. late due to the traffic. Even they can leave their houses earlier.
But they always make an excuse because of the traffic, not admit their faults.
Sir, ChinoF,
How many percents of Filipinos can think like you?
I believe you, people like you must become “brain” for this country…
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:36 am
Yes, that trait of not willing to admit faults is why I wrote this article. It’s one of the things that made me believe our culture of pride is destroying us.
On being the brain for this country… thanks for thinking of me. But actually, we had that chance with Gordon, and even Gibo or Perlas. And we blew it.
Expat from TW Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:59 am
Unfortunately I haven’t met Filipinos like you guys here in this web site.
I guess the most of “Filipinos with brain” already left this country,
so what kind of people are left here??
Expat from TW Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:31 am
And also, especially poor people, which I can’t blame them, but still,
They have a very very strong victim mentality. It’s always them, not us!
Tapos, they never try to do something by themselves.
[Reply]
I have foreseen the future. Philippines will lag behind to the rest of the world. To the point of desperation, intellectuals will leave the waste land in search of a better home, soon to be justified that they are citizens of the world. The corrupt system will continue to destroy the already dying country. A hero will emerge to save everyone. However, like the worst patient you can imagine in a hospital, the doctor admits defeat. The same case… The same result… When it’s all too late… Chaos… After a period of chaos, a new authority comes… The Philippines will be owned by another, claiming one to be as a savior.
[Reply]
I feel like I don’t want to be a Filipino anymore. Being Filipino means you are from Manila or from Luzon. What about us from Mindanao? It is high time we go our own separate way, isn’t it? Hell, no! I was just kidding. The Philippines should stay as it is, one nation under one flag. I’m proud to be a Filipino but for one reason; it is the home of my birth, the home of my people. The politicians and the mass media are wont in saying that our flawed Filipino identity is the product of our regionalism. The historians would venture that it is a perpetuation of our colonial mentality. Still, others will say that it is in our genes! Be that as it may, one thing is clear; all these reasons are foisted on the us for only one purpose – CONTROL! The oligarchs and the filthy rich are keen on maintaining the status quo and one of them is at the helm right now. Corruption is also one of the tools they are using to control the masses, so the campaign promise of “walang kurap, walang mahirap” is just that, a promise, a pipe dream even.
All is not lost, however, because there are people who have seen the light, individuals who, by virtue of their intellect and their common sense, have sifted the grains of truth from the chaffs of deception. You, the people on this site, are the ones who shall break the shackles holding the common people hostage. Spread your message unrelentingly until it gains critical mass, then we can hope to trigger an outpouring of support to bring down these oligarchs from their pedestals. Go!go!