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. 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?
About the Author
BongV has written 201 stories on this site.
BongV is a supply chain analyst and designer, IT micro-preneur (for now), advocate of globalization and education, and who volunteers his free time raising funds to support poor schools in the Philippines. He is a formerly Division Chief of the Investment Generation and Projects Development Division of the "Invest in Davao"/Davao Investment Promotion Center in 1994-97.
53 Comments on “The Philippine Idiocracy Has Arrived”
absentee voting is not as dumb ass law, it is a good law to enable those filipino outside of their home country to vote. like some commercial said, ” you have no right to criticize if you, did not exercise your right to vote…” well, in your case, you opt not to vote by not submitting your affidavit, thus, you dont have a right to criticize the outcome of the election..
Furthermore, the requirement is placed in the law to prevent, those persons like you who wants to vote in the philippine election even if, they to not have any stake in the RP political aspects. Simply, it is there to prevent a foreigner to have a say who should be the leader of the nation.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:13 am
on the contrary, i do have a right to criticize, as a disenfranchised voter.i want to exercised my vote – but the government puts a DUMBASS unconstitutional requirement, DUMBASS
let me see,
I send money to the Philippines
I have properties in the Philippines.
I employ people in the Philippines.
And I don’t have a stake in the politics of the Philippines, considering that my money, my property, and my companies will be affected by politics – I have no right? yeah… DUMBASSES
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J.B. Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
That requirement is the stupid counterbalance against the effect of overseas Filipinos will have on election results.
There are already millions stationed overseas and the only way to prevent them from doing the right choice is to strangle their right to vote.
[Reply]
killem Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
the law is one of the most liberal law in the world already, when it comes to exercise the right of suffrage, it allows non-filipino citizen to vote provided they execute proper documentation. BongV, your not a disenfranchised voter, because you were not entitled to vote in the 1st place.. absentee voting is a mere privilege granted by law. its just a mere exception rather than a rule and in order to avail of such privilege you have to comply what the law provides. besides, the requirement is not hard to comply isnt it?
following your thought of reasoning, if i send money to the us, i have properties there and employ american citizen, will i be allowed to vote in a us election?? i dont think so…
dont call a law damnass just because you opt not to avail it. every privilege has its burden..
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
killem:
I disagree. I agree with the general principle of the law – but I disagree with the requirement to have the disenfranchising affidavits
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http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100411-263623/All-about-overseas-absentee-voting
Informing voters
Unfortunately, while voter turnout in 2004 was 65 percent, it plunged to only 16 percent in 2007 for various reasons, including the backlash of the “Hello Garci” scandal of 2004, the lack of information campaigns, the discriminatory and disenfranchising affidavit requirement from Filipino immigrants and permanent residents in other countries to return to the Philippines to establish domicile within three years from registration, voter-unfriendly post staff on top of inaccessible embassies and consulates and fast turnover of staff.
* the absentee voting law is good
* the requirement is DUMBASS requirement
* the burden is a DUMBASS burden – and it’s not the only DUMBASS BURDEN
***
The law has a nice title – BUT DUMBASS IN THE DETAILS.
***
The absentee voting law is quite defective – prompting Pimentel and Villar to propose amendments which were never carried out :
***
Villar, Nene to File Bill to Fix Absentee-Voting Flaws
PUBLISHED ON May 30, 2008 AT 12:06 PM ·
Senate President Manuel Villar and Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) have introduced a bill that seeks to correct the flaws in the Overseas Absentee Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9189), especially in the areas of registration, voting and disqualification of voters, and enable more Filipinos abroad to exercise their right of suffrage.
Senate Bill 2333, authored by Villar and Pimentel, provides that qualified overseas Filipinos, including seafarers, will have the option to vote either personally or by mail or by any other means as may be allowed by law.
They can vote for president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives, as well as in all national referenda and plebiscites.
The bill prescribes the procedures and requirements by which absentee voting right can be exercised by Filipinos who are citizens of other countries but who have reacquired Filipino citizenship by availing of the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act (RA 9226).
The enthusiasm of overseas Filipinos over their absentee voting right was reflected in the 2004 elections when 65 percent or 233,092 of the 365,000 registered voters cast their votes. While the turnout was high, the number of registrants was lower than expected – an indication of some problems not only in implementation but also in the law itself.
But in the 2007 elections, only 21 percent or a mere 81,732 of the 503,896 registered overseas absentee voters cast their votes. The principal reason for the low turnout given by the Department of Foreign Affairs, civil society organizations advocates of electoral reforms was that it was a mid-term elections and there was less interest among the overseas Filipinos to exercise their voting right because the presidency was not at stake.
Senate Bill 2333 provides that registration and certification as an overseas absentee voter shall be done in person at any post abroad or at designated registration centers in the Philippines approved by the Commission on Elections.
Field and mobile registration centers shall be set up by the Philippine embassies or consulates concerned to ensure accessibility by the overseas absentee voters. Pre-departure registration shall likewise be conducted in accredited government agencies or facilities to be determined by the Comelec.
The bill calls for the creation of a Resident Election Registration Board to process, approve or disapprove all applications for registration or certification of overseas absentee voters.
An overseas absentee voter opting for voting by mail shall file his request with the Philippine embassy, consulate or foreign service establishment that has jurisdiction over the country where he/she temporarily resides at least 120 days before the day of the election. Only those who applied for a postal vote shall be given mailed ballots. They may mail or personally deliver their duly-accomplished ballots to the embassy or consulate concerned ensuring that the same will be received by the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) concerned on or before the close of voting on the day of the elections.
The SBRCG is the group deputized by the Comelec to receive and take custody of all accountable and non-accountable election forms, supplies and paraphernalia.
Overseas Filipinos are given a maximum period of 30 days, including the day of elections and established holidays in the Philippines and in the host countries, within which to cast their votes.
Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 4:52 am
@Killem
if you understood how much OFW’s and the remittance is to the country, you’d think twice about how the current laws regarding absentee voting. Its a nice concept mind you but they don’t give the foreigners and overseas pinoys more of an incentive to have the vote in place. Its silver lining with lazy execution and if you can’t see that, frankly you really DO take their contribution to the country for granted IN A BIG WAY.
I don’t exactly think that tagline is bad however in context with absentee voting, it won’t work. Its there to target those who CAN vote in the country but won’t (not like it made a difference considering registration was closed 8 months ago).
Do the U.S. rely on remittances and overseas foreign workers? No, they rely on their corporate companies exploiting cheap labor like the Philippines and selling the product back home for a large profit! See you lose both ways with your badly concocted comparison.
Jon Abaca Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:20 am
” you have no right to criticize if you, did not exercise your right to vote…”
Do you honestly believe that?
So, that taxi driver that I met, who lives here, doesn’t have a right to be critical of the public officials whose decisions affect his life, simply because he did not exercise his right to vote?
Your limited understanding of democracy shows.
[Reply]
helios Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Jon Abaca, I agree with you on this one…. thats actually a stupid line not having the right to complain/criticize if you do not vote…. I believe it was a MYX VJ who said that lol….
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
The requirement for Filipinos to come home after a certain time is a biased and unjust requirement. It serves only to alienate Filipinos who have a real impact on Philippine life. They send money home, they work their asses off, and yet they are prohibited from voting. That requirement should be struck out. It is clearly trying to tie Filipinos abroad down with unnecessary bondage to contrived loyalties. It is an instrument that actually contributes to prevention meaningful change.
And Filipinos who have gone abroad but won’t come home should still be given every right to vote. They are not foreigners – they are still Filipinos. Every Filipino, citizen or not of the Philippines, has a stake in RP political aspects.
And I disagree that a foreigner should have no say in who should be a leader in our country. I want foreigners to have a stronger say in anything in our country. I disagree with both the spirit and letter of this requirement in absentee voting.
[Reply]
marlo Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I chose not to vote as the outcome was obvious. I work my ass off from 9 to 5 everyday. I am young (30) but live a spartan lifestyle just to save and send money back home. Mind you it is not easy to be so far away from home but I would suffer as a foreigner in a foreign land than live with a people whose culture revolves around television. For christ’s sake is there nothing more productive to do during the day than watching Wowowee and garbage showbiz talk shows or karaoke while waiting for that money from abroad? Reflect on life for once or read a book. Maybe a tall order for the average Filipino to understand. But hey we never have a book culture and it is a lot more entertaining to watch trash TV! Filipinos just want an easy life you see. Better starve rather than sully the hands or use the few brain cells! It is shameful to work you see. Besides you have the overseas people to depend on
[Reply]
Renat0 Pacific0 Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
[@ "Renat0 Pacific0", as a gesture of limited leniency for now, I've consolidated (more like dumped) all your comments together in one comment unit below (arranged from most recent to earliest). Next time, get your thoughts together first and write a coherent and unified comment for each idea instead of placing small tingi-tingi snippets of brainwaves across muliple comments. Your IP address is has been flagged as spam which means your future comments are now more likely to end up in the spam queue at initial submission and will be subject to review by exception. Consider yourself and others here who apply the same tingi style of commenting warned. Enjoy your flight with AP and we look forward to seeing you in future flights.
- benign0]
* * *
Fortunately, I did not VOTE! What good in voting if absentee ballots were not part of the election results in COMELEC website.
Why would I care to vote when I am an American took an oath and pledge my alliance to American Flag!
2ndly, in citizen oath taking, THEY HAVE AS BRING OUR RESPECTIVE FLAG OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. We were to stomp on it. Desecrate it. Tear it. Then burn it. After doing so, we took our oath and pledge of alliagniance.
We also did to the Holy book what we did to the flag. Those who doesn’t do the two are deported, returned home so they can practice their patriotism, nationalism and fakked up religion
In designated Filipinotown in Los Angeles, there is one hold-in-the-wall Dirty Flip restaurant complete with dirty kitchen and dirty tables. In this Fliptown, there is Barrio Fiesta (urrrrgh! dirty! dirty! dirty! dirty!) There is Lutong Bahay!!!! ewwww! on top of dirty! dirty! dirty! the mantequa is asleep.
Dat is all … If you go to Thai Town in Hollywood …. dude you see plenty of Thai restaurants ….
China Town has more plenty ……
ARmenia town … more plenty. Russia town more plenty ….
FILIPINOTOWN? Only Filipinos eat at Filipino restaurants.
HAS ANY OF YOU NOTICED? whites go to chiense, korean and thai restaurant like part of white culture. Filipino restaurant is explored but not worth going back.
Martha’s Vineyard has chinese and korean restaurants run by chineses and koreaneses so does Falmouth, jump-off point to MV. Oh, Falmouth also has Indian and Thai restaurnats. NO FILIPINO RESTAURANTS!!!!
Catalina Island across Los Angeles has their share of Chineses, Koreaneses and Thailandeses restaurants. NO FILIPINO RESTAURANTS!!!!!
Up and down California, you find plenty of chineses, Koreaneses and thailandeses restaurants in white tony neighborhoods. NO FILIPINO RESTAURANTS!!!!!
Why so? When Flippers are ahead of these koreaneses, thailandeneses and chineses!!!!!
ANG PROBLEMA SA FLIPPERS they force people to eat their dishes. ‘Try dis. Bery testy.” White man tasted. “Wat do yo sey? Delisyos? Isn’t it?”
STUPID FILIPINOS. Of course, out of etiquetteings the’d say it is delicious. GOES TO SHOW FILIPINOS JUST CANNOT LEARN PLAIN OBSERVATION AND DINING ETIQUETTING.
[Reply]
Jett Rink Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 11:33 am
on the weed again huh ….
[Reply]
The title of this blog “The Philippine Idiocracy Has Arrived” is erroneous. Idiocracy has been here for a long time and it has never left.
[Reply]
Government r U Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
[@ "Government r U", as a gesture of limited leniency for now, I've consolidated (more like dumped) all your comments together in one comment unit below (arranged from most recent to earliest). Next time, get your thoughts together first and write a coherent and unified comment for each idea instead of placing small tingi-tingi snippets of brainwaves across muliple comments. Your IP address is has been flagged as spam which means your future comments are now more likely to end up in the spam queue at initial submission and will be subject to review by exception. Consider yourself and others here who apply the same tingi style of commenting warned. Enjoy your flight with AP and we look forward to seeing you in future flights.
- benign0]
* * *
It became a reality until today. The present generation of Filipinos should thank their forefathers for thinking the same way as Manuel Quezon not to have Americans run PHilippines like heaven.
As you may not know, the cry of Manuel Quezon was the result of their pride. Filipinos were taken aback when Americans handed over the country to Gen. Aguinaldo for him to declare Philippine Independence when in reality it was the Americans who did the fighting.
“Philippine idiocracy” by way of Filipino’s “ingenuity” of making idiocy as intelligence annoys my senses. Yes it is true that Filipinos have difficulty in their thought processes. Their thought processes were corrupted at the time when Spain colonize Philippines. Spain zapped their brains. Americans installed their softwares. Japan took it away. Americans re-installed the software again. Unbeknownst to Americans, Filipino legacy idiocy went viral. Its malware reached its apex when Manuel Quezon declared “I’d rather have the PHilippines run like hell by Filipino” speech.
Renat0 Pacific0, you have extremely low spelling acuity. Your grammar and english usage requires detoxification. You need severe dose of anger management.
Thank you.
Filipino cuisine is exotic. The pork oil clogs arteries. It clogs oxygen-carrying blood to the head. Absence of oxygen to the head decimates of whatever left of Filipino brain cells. Brain cells do not regenerate. It is dead when dead. Unlike other cells that is resurrected upon death.
Filipino cuisine lowers Intelligent Quotient.
There should be a warning and a disclaimer for all Filipino cuisine.
WARNING: U.S. Department of Health Surgeon General claims frequent ingestion of Filipino cuisine lowers Intelligent Quotient, clogs arteries, raised blood pressure and lowers anger management.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Vox Populi:
Hahahaha… I knew someone was bound to say that.
Cheers!
[Reply]
Aegis-Judex Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 6:54 am
My thoughts exactly, Vox.
Will the average Filipino add Labora to his mountain of Ora?
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I am a Filipino living in the Philippines…despite what many foreigners, Fil-Ams, Fil-whatever, I won’t trade being a Filipino…yes, the results of the election was rather unsavory but it just shows that Filipinos who know better should try and give more effort to educate the more easily influenced kababayans…maybe not only through blogs but through popular mediums like TV, newspaper…
It’s sad to read Filipino-bashing comments especially from Filipinos living abroad…it’s hard enough living in the country already, sometimes frustrating and I know it will be a hard battle before we get the change that we want but if Filipinos who know better just give up and leave the country then there really is no hope for our Motherland…And if they really have to go outside the country for work at least give some respect to Filipinos who have chosen to remain here…
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
alab:
that’s why they left – they knew better. it’s a fight that can’t be won – not this time.
the consistency of the voter turnout in favor of idiots, thugs, oligarchs from barangay kagawad to President is deafening.
for every 2 Raul Roco, or 2 Gordon, or 2 Perlas – you have 30 for Estrada, 45 for Aquino.
nature has equipped with us with two responses – fight or flight. hey men, if the majority of you want to remain miserable and mediocre, by all means it is your choice. but it is not my choice – and i am not about to do your work for you – i do my work and you do your work.
if you don’t do you work, i will keep on doing mine, but it wouldn’t be with you. and it would be in the same neighborhood – or country as you. preferably a location where the attitude and mentality of people are unlike the typical pinoy idiots that vote for the likes of an Aquino or an Estrada for that matter.
like any human being I will search for the proverbial greener pasture, rightly or wrongly. from what i can see, in choosing Aquino, the pasture on the other side has become a lot greener because your choice of an oligarch manchurian candidate. why so? because while the grass in your pasture may be green – most of it will be eaten by the oligarch and his cronies and relatives.
you get the government you deserve – i didn’t want that kind of government. i am going to a place where the government is more suited to my preferences. you already have your government – your own preferences fulfilled, i just want mine. if i can’t have it in the Philippines, I will get it elsewhere – and yes, am leaving. i will search for a pasture where it’s not only green but there is enough for me and my family.
you guys didn’t think of my family when you chose Aquino or Estrada, why should I think about the impact of the brain drain to your families now? one good turn deserves another.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Like me?
A lot of us are here in Pinas, and we’re not afraid to speak our mind against the true sources of dysfunction in the country. Even if the sources of dysfunction are the ones that call themselves “the people,” “the patriots,” “the true Filipinos,” blah blah… because they’re not.
[Reply]
ilda Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:00 am
@alab
I know you are a sensible guy and I know you will understand when I say that love of the Philippines does not mean you have to accept mediocrity. You’ve seen how media and religion played a role in Noynoy’s win. Unfortunately, we are up against these giants who can wield so much influence on the majority. It would be great if we can use the mainstream media to educate the voters but sadly, this is not going to happen unless we find a media mogul who has a conscience and who really cares about the poor not just his bottom line.
For now, criticising the voters’ choice is the only thing we can do. Maybe in this way, people will be moved to have a dialogue and discuss what’s wrong. Since you already know the truth, you just have to take the articles with a grain of salt. Even we stop doing this, you cannot stop the international community seeing and reporting the cold hard facts. I think it’s better that the international community sees that there are Filipinos who realise that there is something wrong and that we need to do something. They will respect us more rather than just seeing everyone acting like a sheep on its way to the slaughter house.
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 6:27 am
@alab
I’m in assent with BongV that if you feel that you are a kind of person that can help contribute to society because of your qualities and not because of your personality, then you would seek out those greener pastures. I remembered reading in a filipino magazine (probably that IS the title) where some Pinoy in an american DMV is complaining how back in the country he’s a senator but in America, he’s like everybody else.
I don’t think you can give respect for those who WANTED IT THAT WAY. Sorry for the emphasis but its key. If they wanted a change, especially beginning with the elections, the results would have been for the people who were promoting the real changes. Some remain here because honestly, they don’t have a opportunity and for others, beggars can’t be choosers.
Its all about personal ambitions and motivations and if the country help support, of course they are going somewhere else. What of pinoy scientists, physicists, astronauts and visionaries and all those awesome life changing occupations they’d die to be part of? They are in other countries with the resources to cater to their ambitions. I guess it works both ways. Thats why you get a bunch of artistas because that is all what the country seems to care for.
[Reply]
I’m still of the opinion that the Philippines is a cyberpunk dystopia.
First chapter of Neuromancer and I’m already thinking of Manila.
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Jon Abaca Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Then hopefully a Max Headroom type character starts exposing local TV stations for what they truly are.
[Reply]
Anonylol Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Put on a trenchcoat and fight some conspiracies.
Wanna go for it?
[Reply]
Jon Abaca Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:39 am
A trenchcoat in this weather? Sorry, but as fun as it sounds, I don’t want to get heatstroke.
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Let’s fight some co-co-co-co-co-co-conspiracy theories!
Max Headroom…. 1980s example of lag. lol
[Reply]
@BongV
Loved the video. I kinda feel for Augusto and I can very much identify with him.
When I came to the Philippines and met with my family from both sides, I saw a big difference comparing where the “Filipino” culture is more dominant.
On my mum’s side, family times and Meal times are a lot more noisy and discussions are very frequent. This was because of the fact that my cousins on that side are well educated and sort of “Westernized.” They dont conform to much of the Filipino society and they dont watch local channels. This made them easier for me and my brother (who grew up in Aus) to associate with considering there was no tradition in demanding respect from older people (po and opo and mano mano and such) and we felt more comfortable because it just felt like we were talking to just the same old group back home in Aus.
On the other hand, my dad’s side, which has more of an aristocratic vibe, it was very quiet, comfortable and sometimes they were unbearable to be around. I’d hear the older people get pissed at kids who forgot to say opo, I’d be required to make mano to everyone and the worst thing about it, meal times were so fricken QUIET! As in no talking… And this was what I saw in Augusto’s family. This is the Filipinized family. Their past time is watching Eat bulaga or Wowowee or Game KNB or MTB (back in the day). They made kids dance the ocho ocho and perform for the elderly and some kids hated it and some loved it. It was so uncomfortable.
What I noticed too is that on my dad’s side, people are so easily offended. And I guess that’s one of the reasons why people were so quiet during meal times – they were afraid to offend someone on the dining table.
When it comes to small family gathering like in the scene in Augusto’s family’s house, another key point would be that there was a foreigner amongst them. Filos hate to make themselves look bad, esp the older generations. If the kids make them look bad in front of foreigner, they get banished to say the least.
It was painful to watch Augusto. I kind of identify with him. I’m sure many westernized filos would.
[Reply]
ben Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:23 am
Correction:
“On the other hand, my dad’s side, which has more of an aristocratic vibe, it was very quiet, uncomfortable and sometimes they were unbearable to be around.”
[Reply]
ChinoF Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 4:57 am
Ben, I hope you don’t mind my using your example here for an article I’m writing about our Filipino family values. The example you gave just demonstrates how dysfunctional and erroneous our traditional values can be.
[Reply]
Tekkie Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 8:33 am
“On the other hand, my dad’s side, which has more of an aristocratic vibe, it was very quiet, comfortable and sometimes they were unbearable to be around. I’d hear the older people get pissed at kids who forgot to say opo, I’d be required to make mano to everyone and the worst thing about it, meal times were so fricken QUIET! ” (How do you quote this?)
There’s nothing wrong with pagiging magalang and being quiet in meals, is there?
Actually i’m proud that I have that Filipino attitude. Its one of the good traits of our culture.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 8:53 am
my take is – it’s not “wrong” per se… it’s just “odd”
pagiging magalang does not mean submissiveness or silence – magalang simply means being respectful.
in another context – it also means being a gentleman – taking the time to make sure that other parties are comfortable, well seated, and having a great time.
we do the “mano”, “po” opo stuff, too.. BUT not with overkill and super OA to the point of pandering to the oldies.
my mom saw to it that TV and radio was off during dinner time. it was a time to catch up with what everyone was up to – plans, friends, business, anything under the sun – at times dinner was like a corporate boardroom where we were talking about finances and administrative issues in our various micro-enterprises. at times it was also a time to get an earful from the oldies – that’s when there’s an uneasy silence – a “come to jesus” dinner.. LOL..
dinner wasn’t just about eating, it was about “bonding”, communicating – it was about family.
– it was varied… but i always remember the good food – my mom had this formula – “wet and dry”. there must always be “dry” food (fried/grilled/baked) to match the “wet (soup, gumbo, veggies). sinigang or bulalo went with fried galunggong/ or grilled bariles/grilled pork chops – oh gee – i’d chow down one bandehado of rice in a heartbeat
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Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 9:47 am
tekkie, ‘blockquote’. See html tags that can work with wordpress.
Anyway, I’d agree its odd to the point that its overkill. I mean chit chat and all that is good but what I think ben is describing is this kind of overbearing atmosphere were everyone is more worried about saying the wrong thing and getting into argument with people who put their personal feelings before the dinner table.
Its all about being a good host, I guess.
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ChinoF Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 11:10 am
I agree with overkill. When your grandpa says, “Pag hindi ka nagmamano, isa kang demonyo! Tingnan mo ang mga Amerikano, walang galang, kasi hindi sila nagmamano” that’s overkill and ethnocentrism with arrogance.
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Tekkie Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 6:47 am
I see. You have a point though
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I just finished the Bourdain episode… Good grief, he’s spot on in his opinions. Let me guess the subtleties in his comments.
“You’re too nice. It’s a problem.” Basically, uto-uto ang Pinoy.
“You eat this, it gives you many children…” I laughed at this one…. what an innuendo.
Claude Tayag said, “You have to be a Kapampangan (or whatever local ethnicity) before a Filipino…” Still true, but I very much disagree with this opinion. Want to be united, scrap your fierce localist loyalities first.
And Augusto… unfortunately looked somewhat foolish. He’s loud and wild on his video pitch, but is toned down in real life. That is so common in Filipinos… let me dare the word… plastic.
Of course it was a nice episode, but as Bourdain was saying… we’re having problems knowing who we are.
Masmagandang makinig sa foreigners kaysa sa mga sarili natin.
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I just watched Parts 1 & 2 of the video. I can’t watch it anymore because it only makes me hungry(nom nom nom …Sisig… nom nom nom) and wanna eat some of our dishes. Though at the start I already noticed that the host was “forced” to go to Philippines.
Anyway, can someone summarize it?
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Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 7:23 am
Part 1 – Manila cuisine. highlights on dampa at Cubao. Odd since I can’t find the fish dealer I usually talk there and buy 300 pesos worth of tuna steaks or tanigue.
Part 2 – introduced you Claude Tayag
part 3 – Claude Tayag is a Kapampangan idiot. Also Augusto shows his real side and motivations. Nag papansin lang. Quite boring considering the first 2 segments were really exciting.
Wil come back with eps 4-5.
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Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 8:31 am
part 4 – yeah, you got to see Augusto and torture with his family. COMPLETE opposite of what a ****ing fiesta should be. I dunno why honestly.
part 5 – Tony makes an attempt to help Augusto find his identity by showing him the best Lechon. But despite the awesome culinary marvel, the family was still ho-hum and Augusto just as complacent.
Identity issues man. Dealt with it as a young, angry pinoy in the U.S. as well when I went to Northeastern University and I was hoping their Filipino University Group would give me a chance for solidarity. Odd enough the entire group was just as clueless what the country is like, or the food, pop culture (lack of) or what not.
And even more so now. Foreigner makes spot on, subtle comments about pinoy culture. Pinoys nitpick it of negative stuff and try rectify it with positive things from history. Still can’t get the bad taste out of your mouth when you see what the country is REALLY like. And many more pinoy idiots who can’t accept pinoys on pinoys scrutinizing, as if led to believe that Filipinos are really ‘united’. I’d hate to kill them if there were a civil war, because I’d kill them first.
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ChinoF Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 11:22 am
I guess what made the family quiet is also the aspect of hiya. There’s a foreigner, they’re afraid of saying something wrong… or probably because, they can’t relate. We watch Wowowee, he knows about the vineyards in France that we don’t know anything about. A Filipino family was the victim of its own limited lifestyle. They should get out more often… I mean, get out of their cultural shells.
Jay Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Baka sa ‘hiya’ nga. Like they were overtly critical of what to say that they’d rather not utter anything/be animated at all. I mean Tony wasn’t even there to talk about France’s vineyard with Augusto but just food-drink-culture stuff in general that other cultures would be absurdly effusive over (I’d know. I’ve been with a friend of mine who have strong italian roots and in one dinner when I raved about the pasta his mother cooked, being a pasta neophyte then, she schooled me on her point of view regarding italian food culture). I think that was the shocker and why Tony’s simple question in the end wasn’t going to be a simple, unifying answer as opposed to everyone having their own spin on it.
ChinoF Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 2:53 am
Heavens dude, volumes were revealed about Filipino dysfunctions in this episode. I’m surprised no one raised a hoot about it. I guess Bourdain and his writers presented it very diplomatically.
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Jon Abaca Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Sorry, I was too busy paying attention to the food.
I noticed a few things…
Nobody had a straight answer regarding the Filipino identity question. On many levels of Philippine society, from the family level, to the provincial level, there is a “insider-outsider” mentality. It’s not violent, but it’s alienating, and it creates communication barriers. For example, how Augosto feels like an outsider when he’s in the company of his relatives in Cebu.
I also noticed that good behavior operates under a trust mechanism. For example, in the chicken balls segment, people are not supposed to double dip, but there is no mechanism ensuring that they do not. Aside from the occasional threat of hepatitis, there is very little negative reinforcement if they do double dip.
Lastly, regarding the dried fish shop segment, nobody was really objective about the products. It valued the salesperson more than the actual quality of the dried fish. I think the consumer willingly gives up too much power to the supplier.
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ChinoF Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
Oh, I wasn’t berating you with my “heavens, dude” exclamation. I meant it more like a “Eureka!” because of the exciting discoveries. Sorry about that.
But those are interesting things you noticed too. That’s how much you can see when reading between the lines. The “trust” system is something that Benign0 had been emphasizing when talking about systems that work. Right now, we’re seeing a lot of distrust being flung back and forth, especially with the refusal to recognize an SC justice.
Jay Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 4:34 am
@Jon
I agree with you a bit on the dried fish market segment though sadly its more out of convenience, especially those who shop often. Of course a saavy shopper would still canvas (or peruse) the other stalls to see if their prices or quality has changed. Market shopping is a bit of a trial and error but I don’t have a suki when I buy in Farmers Market in Cubao, except for certain fish since only a few people seem to have what I want.
Jon Abaca Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 5:13 am
The suki system can work. Generally, I think it does. Odd though, that it doesn’t work on the grand scale.
HA! The Filipino people are the suki to the Aquino leadership.
But anyway, Aquino is jumping the gun by thinking that new chief justice is beholden to GMA. Granted, the timing was off, but then again, we can’t blame Chief Justice Puno for being born on a certain date.
Aren’t people innocent until proven guilty?
Jay Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Ironically, to those defending noynoy with giving him the benefit of the doubt, noynoy himself should do the same for the SC judge before claiming where their allegiances are. At least he should have a provision when he crosses that bridge.
You win some, you lose some. Bourdain gives props to the Cebu lechon as the best roasted pig. The other food are passable. Some food understandably a non East or South-East Asian can’t stomach, hehe. There are episodes though of No Reservations where Bourdain didn’t like most of the food (West African, Central Asian mostly). All six season are available on dvd, or for those with the means, downloadable thru torrent.
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I thought the episode was ok. I kind of like Anthony’s reaction to papaitan. His descriptions and comments in that kambingan were pretty darn funny too.
But yeah, I kind of feel bad for Augosto. They mentioned in the end that he had a Chinese-American wife, must be that woman next to him in the long table not eating the lechon, so that must have added to his alienation. Bourdain does have a point there, maybe sometimes you just can’t go back. I don’t think it can be attributed to the particulars of Filipino culture, I think it’s something that happens everywhere.
Augosto probably got hit with culture shock when he spent a longer time with his relatives in Cebu. He must have been treated like a foreigner, which he is after all. He was probably shocked that he got to be interviewed by Bourdain too. I don’t think it’s him being plastic, he really looked kind of shell-shocked in the episode.
Reminds me of this fiction trope:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StrangerInAFamiliarLand
Also, I fell off my chair laughing when they showed some of the fan submissions. I know one of those mooks.
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ChinoF Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 2:55 am
You’re probably right about culture shock. I guess that’s the problem with being too frickin’ ordinary in life.
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Jay Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 3:25 am
@AnonyLol
Which then reminds me themes in media of people finding their home, or going back home, be it physical or metaphorical. Its a rather huge issue for some young adults.
But yeah now I change my stance that he probably was shocked, in more ways than one and in a span of time from the interview to his travel back home in Cebu.
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I think the appropriate title is The Philippine Idiocracy Has Returned instead of The Philippine Idiocracy Has Arrived since the pre-Spanish Filipinos were idiots.
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