Pat Evangelista: CRAZED–Filipino Idol
Thursday
Oct 28, 2004
This is an article published in the 22 October 2004 edition of the Philippine Star (sadly, the Star does not make available its archives online, but you may click here for the Google cache). It makes one, especially a Filipino, think, are we really awful? Are we really a country with awful politics, awful places, awful traffic, awful, awful people. I’d think we do indeed have awful politics and awful traffic! But awful people? I guess we do have a handful of awful people. But what country doesn’t?
- Angelo
Filipino Idol
CRAZED By Patricia Chanco Evangelista
The Philippine STAR 10/22/2004
I went to London last May to represent the Philippines in the International Public Speaking Competition. I gave a speech that celebrated the Filipino identity, telling the world that being Filipino is something that must never be denied.
When I competed in the local eliminations, they gave us the topic “A Borderless World.” It was inevitable, at least for me, to speak about the Filipino Diaspora. It’s true, I was out to win, and I used a feeling that is very much alive in the Philippines today: condemnation.
We have a family friend who used to be close to us. She and her family sent all their kids to America to a better life, a better future. It hurt to have them leave, but people are entitled to their choices. They came back a couple of years ago. They invited us to dinner, and so there we were in their living room, along with their brand-new furniture and 50-inch flat-screen TV. The adults started talking about the Philippines at least our old friend did. She said that she is glad, so glad, that her children have been saved from this god-awful country of ours. A country with awful politics, awful places, awful traffic, awful, awful people.
Im a Filipino. Im one of those “awful” people. And I was outraged.
I didnt say anything then. What could I say? But when the competition gave me the platform to speak about a borderless world, I spoke I said everything I wished I said years ago. I was like a madman on a soapbox, I condemned the Filipinos who chose to leave, said they deserved to be pushed down the road to hell on a handcart. Traitors and turncoats, I called them.
And I won obviously not because of content. Sabi ko nga, angas, kaya minsan. Sometimes confidence can save the day. I still blush when I remember what happened. In London, I didnt win on my own. I was lucky enough to be under the tutelage of some of the best minds in the country. Great writers like Krip Yuson, Gemino Abad, Butch Dalisay, Boo Chanco and Ed Maranan, along with former ambassador Ed Espiritu took me under their wing. They never told me what to do or say – I would never have said what I did in the finals if I didnt reach that conclusion on my own. They asked me questions, listened to what I said, and opened my eyes to a less narrow and more holistic perspective.
I almost didnt go to London. Money is tight, and asking for government support at a time like this is difficult, close to impossible. However, it is a wonderful thing to have corporations such as Shell Philippines who believe in giving back to the country. They sent me to London with a ticket, a smile and a “good luck.” Like I said, I as lucky.
With the support of so many people, family, friends and the grace of God, I won. Hey, Im Filipino. I went home with cameras at my face and questions like: “How does it feel to put the Philippines on the map?” I was 18, and I have to admit, I was thrilled. Im not the first Filipino to win, and Im not going to be the last. But unlike a lot of winners, I have something else going for me. My mentors and relatives are some of the most prolific writers in the country, and they made d@mn sure people knew what I did. In other words, I have built-in publicity. Cool, huh?
The other day, I was reading the paper and found the story of an 11-year-old girl named Faye. It was a paid ad by Bread of Life Ministries. “Unknown to her countrymen, this 11-year-old girl brought honor to the Philippines. She represented the country two weeks ago in the Intercontinental Science Quiz Net in Australia. Out of 57 countries represented, Faye garnered first place for the Philippines. Germany came in second, the United States came third.”
Faye’s story is an extraordinary one. Given financial constraints, especially since her mother was raising Faye on her own, they went to various congressmen for aid. Only one was willing to help them in exchange for the senator taking credit for the childs former achievements (and there were many). Her mother did what any self-respecting mother would have, she refused. Mother and daughter went to Australia by dint of their own savings. They collected her “Best in Physics” award in Brisbane and moved on to Sydney for the Quiz. They were aided by none other than a “kind” Filipina on the plane, who very kindly stole their luggage, passports and plane tickets, leaving the pair with carry-on luggage. They sold their clothes for food, and begged for help from Filipino officials. They were given an overnight stay in a hotel, but no more. They had to check out the next day, and with no money for transportation, they walked the two kilometers to the tournament site.
They were shocked by the sight that faced them. Each competitor had his own cheering squad, a band and a flag. Young Faye had no one other than her mother. In the final round, Faye was the only Asian left competing and was cheered on to victory by her fellow Asians, the Japanese. It was a Japanese diplomat who helped them secure temporary passports, with the prize money only sufficient to bring them back home.
It is tempting to blame everything on a country that claims it is looking for heroes and does not acknowledge them. The article draws parallels to Jasmine Trias victory, why give the Hawaiian winner of America Idol the red carpet to Malacanang, when a homegrown 11-year-old girl went through hell and high water to bring honor to the country? After the Southeast Asian Games, there was no one, not a single member of the National Sports Commission to receive our athletes. True, they did not win but they faced their competitors with a dignity and a skill that befit Filipinos. They too represented the country.
It is tempting to revert back to the old Filipino condemnation. Awful politicians, awful government, awful people. But it would not be fair. Faye herself said, in spite of everything, “let us love our nation, for no one else will.” Brave girl that.
I was lucky to be at the right time and the right place, to have the support of so many people, bringing me the opportunities I have today. Some people are not so lucky. I do not deny Jasmine Trias’ moment in the sun. Her talent is as real as anyone else’s and we Filipinos love the glitz and glamour of spotlights and cameras. Yet her success has drawn a stark contrast to those who have succeeded yet were not recognized.
Butch Jimenez, one of the greatest speakers I have heard and another of those people who see the value of giving to the country, gave a speech to the graduates of UP Diliman. He said that theres something better than having a vision: its having a cause.
I found my cause. I was lucky to get the attention. I am grateful for the recognition. I am honored by the chance to speak my mind and to influence people. I cannot say that enough. Helping this one girl, and others like her will be my cause. It is disgraceful for such victory to go unnoticed. One article may not make a difference, but its a step.
For all those times that no one said it, I say this now.
Faye, congratulations. You did the country proud.
MLQIII Op/Ed: Sweat of a Woman
Thursday
Oct 28, 2004
Manuel L. Quezon III writes on the olfactory sense.
The Long View : Sweat of a woman
Updated 09:38pm (Mla time) Oct 27, 2004
By Manuel L. Quezon III
Inquirer News Service
Editor’s Note: Published on page A13 of the October 28, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
An excerpt:
But here’s a juicy tidbit to end things: “For those of exquisite sensuality, there is nothing headier than the musky smell of a loved one moist with sweat. But natural body odors don’t strike most of us as particularly enticing. In the Elizabethan Age, lovers exchanged ‘love apples’ — a woman would keep a peeled apple in her armpit until it was saturated with her sweat, and then give it to her sweetheart to inhale.”
Rene Jarque: Reforming the Armed Forces
Tuesday
Oct 26, 2004
Retired Captain Rene Jarque writes on the need to reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines. While this dates back to late 2003, this may still be relevant at this time especially in view of the corruption scandals the military top brass are currently facing.
An excerpt:
No amount of lessons in democracy nor instilling the concept of civilian authority over the military can prevent another military mutiny or coup attempt in the future. Only by reforming the Armed Forces and creating a professional and honest Officer Corps can we be assured that the military will know its rightful place in a democratic society. For the sake of the country and our people, for our children and posterity, the Armed Forces of the Philippines must be reformed.
Relatedly, another paper by Capt. Jarque, “THE FACT-FINDING COMMISSION REPORT AND THE ARMED FORCES IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS,” deals with the Report of the Fact Finding Commission to investigate the Oakwood Incident (links here and here) and discusses what the report says and does not say, and looks at the role of the Armed Forces in Philippine politics describing a politicized AFP amidst an unstable political situation and the need for both military and government reform.
An excerpt:
It is the people who elect the political leaders and it is unfortunate that many of our people do not know much where they want to go and what they want and then choose the right leaders who will lead them there. Due to the indifference of a majority of our people, we have all become victims of a political system that is ruled by patronage and populism. To correct this, we must all act together to first, understand what is happening and then, to do something about it. We owe it to ourselves and to our children that the military and the government is transformed to a better one than it is today. In the people reside the strength to change and the building of a true democracy. However, we cannot change government by always taking to the streets and staging people power for it shows how fragile our democratic processes are and that we, as a people, have not matured from mob rule. Personally, I am not discouraging people power because when the political system fails and the rulers continue to be corrupt and rule irresponsible and government does not listen and act, it is in all event the only way to go.
Joey Alarilla: Surviving the Zeroes
Friday
Oct 22, 2004
Being a father to a one year and four-month old daughter, I surely can relate to this essay!
-Angelo
From INQ7.net: Joey Alarilla, an INQ7.net contributing editor, won third prize for Essay (English Division) in the 2004 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. “Surviving the Zeroes” is dedicated to his wife Ellen and daughter Sam, without whom this essay, his first Palanca award and daily existence itself would not be possible.
An excerpt from Surviving the Zeroes:
Welcome to the Zeroes and the future that our children are building today. More than any other generation that came before it, the children born during the Zeroes (also known as the 00s, Zero Years or, my personal favorite, the Oh-Ohs) will be called upon to build a new world and create the rules for surviving in it. They are the first generation whose formative years will be shaped by pervasive technology, whether in our homes or in our offices (which, in my case, are one and the same). They are the true children of the digital age — not we who may have embraced the information technology revolution but whose roots are firmly embedded in the analog world.
Read Joey’s prize-winning essay here.
Joey narrates, in his blog, how he discovered he had won the Palanca.
** Updated as of 1515H 24-Oct-04 (revised links).
INQ7.net: Mixed Media : A Blog or Not a Blog: Is that the Question?
Friday
Oct 22, 2004
Sylvia Mayuga writes on the issue on INQ7.net’s Talking Points.
An excerpt:
A FUNNY thing happened on INQ7’s way to creating a “more interactive†medium with the new Viewpoints column “Talking Points,” intended “to share knowledge, insights and opinions on topics vital to the planet.â€
We hit a squall a few hours after setting sail, strangely enough, from some of the local Filipino pioneers in the now wildly popular global media format called weblogging, a.k.a. “blogging,†that we’ve been tracking (and lauding).
…
** Update as of 1530H 24-Oct-04:
Posted as a comment on Pinoyblog by A Sassy Lawyer
Relevant links :
my response to Mayuga, Cathy’s take, Willie Galang’s reaction and Stepping on Poop’s reply.
Recent Comments