Ask any Pinoy what he thinks the scourge of society is and he will answer with any number of things: illiteracy, government corruption, religious coercion, ignorance, ridicule, poverty, so on. Ask him if he considers himself the whipping boy of the things he just mentioned and he will gesticulate with a shrug and say he can’t do anything about it because it’s been that way since time immemorial.
How convenient is it to anchor our beliefs on something so simplistic, as though we have been defeated and “forced” to accept that our fate is to stagnate and relinquish any hopes we may have for a better life?
THE PINOY MASA - TOTALLY CLUELESS
Seriously. Rizal died for this? You can bet your indio ass he’s turning over in his grave with the way things are, decades after the foreign oppressors left us. He couldn’t have expected that his act of heroism has done NOTHING to erase the inferiority complex that Spanish colonization wrought upon our ancestors.
“Proud to be Masa.”
Who are the so-called “masa,” anyway?
If we go by definition that the “masa” are the majority in terms of economic viability, and that by popular opinion there’s no such thing as the “middle classes,” only a gaping chasm between the very rich and the very poor of our society’s echelons, then, I am one of the masa.
If we go by description that the “masa” are the “bakya” crowd who patronize thrift shops, cheap turo-turo’s, and the occasional ukay-ukay, then, I am one of the masa.
But there’s where i end any further identification with them. because, by ideology, I have long divorced myself from the archaic values, beliefs and practices that the “masa” adhere to with fastidious reverence.
I have never believed, for instance, that the sun shines out of willie revillame’s rear end. The masa would have you believe that this is so. If left to their own devices, these people would in all probability elect this person into office, just like they did that other guy who was knocked off the presidency. But I digress.
Unfortunately, reality is much too offensive to the mind. It certainly pales in comparison to the prospect of personal gain and deflected glory. Why on earth would the fun loving pinoy worry about tomorrow?
That it is ignoble to pick up a muck-rake and expose the festering garbage that’s causing the plagues of society is as much the whipping boy’s fault as it is the scourger’s. for the “masa” would have you believe that it is their sole right to love the Philippines and any criticism on the Philippines is a criticism on their person. Indeed, you point out the things that we could go without and they would automatically interpret it as a personal attack.
“it is not our fault that we are poor and desperate.”
“Just because we’re poor doesn’t give you the right to ridicule us.”
I have every right as any Filipino here to love my country in my own way. I have every right to pick up that proverbial muck-rake, not to strike anyone with, but to help expose the dregs that need cleaning.
Fr. Sionil Jose: The elite are irresponsible, the masa are apathetic and ignorant.
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We love to be the underdog…this is the mindset of most Filipinos. We love Wowoowee people like Revillame. Wowoowee Revillame even caused a stampede, some years ago; that killed people. People who were trying to win some prizes, in his program. Politicians know this mindset of Filipinos. Mendicancy mentality; victim mentality; and tribal mentality…They play on these weakness of the Filipino voters…so they build their Family Political Dynasties, on these stupidities of our Filipino voters…When will we ever learn…
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charta Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Filipino “masa” do love to be the underdog, but based on their actions at Wowowee/Willing Willie/Wil Time Bigtime alone, what they love to play as is the “victim”. We can see that even on what Noynoy is doing right now at the Spratlys.
“Pa-awa effect”, ika nga.
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palebluedot_ Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 9:10 am
because the way of life of filipinos is based on a religion that perpetuates:
“blessed are the poor…”
“blessed are the meek…” (pa-awa effect?)
“blessed are they who hunger…”
“blessed are the peacemakers…” <— (filipinos who stick to status quo, kasi natataranta pag may debate)
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Cy Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:24 am
True… religion plays a huge role in the Filipino belief that weakness is a sign of blessing. Even though the Bible teaches us to be good caretakers of our resources (Matthew 25:20-21) or to be submissive to the government (Romans 13:1-7)… or even that the Bible is against lazy people (Proverbs 13:4)… I don’t remember hearing any priest preach that to the masses who listen.
Bill Kasi Reply:
December 5th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
I think the Filipino mainstream media are more exploitative than the religion. Filipinos just believe whatever the mainstream media throw at them. The mainstream media are the one enjoying and benefitting the status quo. And they don’t want any of you criticisms.
Well said!
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what would you expect from a country which doesnt play golf or cricket and sees boxing and ****-fighting as sport!
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arthur Reply:
June 19th, 2011 at 1:03 am
Cricket has boundaries – Corruption in the Phils doesn’t !!
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Pinoys love to pass off responsibility and accountability and would never admit a dent of guilt or crime. Unrepentant “kapalmuks” who love to feign innocence, play the victim card and often end up the hero.
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Pinoys love to pass off responsibility and accountability and would never admit a dent of guilt or crime. Unrepentant “kapalmuks” who love to feign innocence, play the victim card and often end up the hero.
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Zadkiel Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
this
+1
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What can I say….
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Are there heroes left in the Filipino? Is there no one among us who will stand up and fight? Is there no one who values dignity over their own comfort?
I would like to believe we can be better than the sorry state we are in now. Even now there is still hope, we just have to stand for ourselves.
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utakmunggo Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 3:21 am
at this point we can only be our own hero. if we police ourselves and stop perpetuating the negative aspects of our culture within our immediate family, that in itself would be a change. self-awareness is key even if we do not have the means and influence to affect change within a national level.
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I love my motherland. I however despise the Filipino Masa (indios) to which I refer not all but mostly to people spitting on roads, peeing on pavements, feel sorry for the uncertain fate of impoverished children, juvenile youths, jobless tramps, wicked authorities, selfless citizens, ineligible officials, In general I admit the causes of our weakness the arrogance, the rotten attitude, bad habits, nonsense values, ignorance, unproductive sloth-like mindsets, The failed democracy and system..the flawed 1987 Constitution as well… the Republic now breeds it’s youth with immorality, desperation, greed, arrogance & ignorance.Recent news shed the light of the implications of a ever collapsing Republic.No amount of tragedy can change us. This is The Degeneration of our Race. Adiós Filipinas!
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Chris Kochesky Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 7:50 am
Very well said! Suffice to say, it doesn’t matter what the government does (if it even cares to change the status quo) to improve the situation, it will never improve because the people will never change their ways. Personally, being a foreigner and all, it makes me want to projectile vomit. I often wonder why no one understands my anger but clearly it’s because the people are ignorant of their ignorance.
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The media and showbiz are not really that helpful for raising nationalistic awareness. Too many soap operas about the rich oppressing the poor, the poor as the source of scoundrels while the rich are the “corrupt” politicians and businessmen. Dang, we rarely do see a middle class family ever in the movies or in tv. SO much for the Cinderella syndrome, where the poor are hoping for a fairygrandmother to do magic and let them have an opportunity to strike revenge on the rich.
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i work with filipinos and i have noticed that they lack knowledge but they behave like they are masters in that field , always try to lick boss ass basically zero intellectual contribution and only politics. most of them cannot speak and pronounce proper english. they always hide from responsibilities.if filipinos come together they will always talk in tagalog irrespective of what kind of nationalities they are working with.they are virtually immune to emotions and feelings to other nationality.they think they are smart but then you see some good filipina with some stupid filipino who is really asshole she will be very loyal etc to him and he will keep on cheating with her, he will make her pregnant and escape and then he is going to do same thing again and again till he dies.
if u come dubai u will see filipinas with really stupid improper educated people f***k**g for few dirhams / kfc its really sad to see.its like if u dont want to spend on pok pok take one filipina gf and f**k her for kfc.marrying a filipina is going to be shame for person as he will lose respect in society.
save it before it gets over…
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“it is not our fault that we are poor and desperate.” – It is!
“Just because we’re poor doesn’t give you the right to ridicule us.” – It Does!
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Chris Kochesky Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 8:08 am
Your answers are not entirely true. We are products of our environment and if that environment is poor (socially, morally, and economically) then you will surely be a part of it and not entirely to blame. Yes, people here should look outside of the box for REAL change but is this really possible when you are completely surrounded by dysfunction? I really don’t know, I can’t answer that because I grew up in a very functional environment. However, others do have the right to ridicule if it allows for a solution so I agree to an extent on that one.
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Indeed, this one proves that the Philippines is the country of Faggots, Gays and Homosexuals. The tragedy on Norway should have happened in the Philippines instead!
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Chris Kochesky Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 8:01 am
No tragedy should be wished upon anyone (regardless of how screwed up and corrupt a country is) and personal life choices are irrelevant. I’m straight but widespread homosexuality isn’t reason enough to doom an entire population. You sound like a bigot and bigotry opposes morality, so consider your words first before posting. BTW, what’s that writing next to your avatar, is that Korean? Those of us from the first world don’t need to use sophomoric gestures like name-calling to defend our positions, we have the facts on our side.
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