You can easily tell that Filipinos aren’t a very reflective people. Go to any public place — a mall, a department store, a train station — or take a ride in a public utility vehicle like a bus or jeepney and chances are your senses will be assaulted by loud monotonously-throbbing music punctuated by tacky vocals.
Why does every public space in the Philippines have to be so, well, disco-like??
“Vacuous” as boss Benign0 terms it.
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I’m really not quite sure whether loud thumping music is a reflection of the vacuousness of Filipino minds or if the vacuousness of Filipino minds is its outcome. Do malls, perhaps, play loud music incessantly to dull thinking and make Filipinos more vulnerable to the power of suggestion?
Here, listen to this loud music. And while you’re at it, check out the low prices of these inferior products on display.
Or more ominously…
Here, listen to this loud music and check out the babes gyrating to it on stage. And while you’re at it, remember to vote for Risa Hontiveros.
Hey that’s just a hypothetical example of a suggestive message, ok ma’am Risa? 😉
Actually, this article was inspired by Benign0’s previous post on the pomp and pageantry surrounding the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod and the promotion of Bishop Tagle to Cardinal. When I read it, it suddenly hit me — Filipinos are easily distracted. It explains why on one moment they’d be up in arms over the latest outrage fad and, on the next, they’d suddenly move on fists pumping in the air to the next noisy “issue”. It explains why a million-strong mob illegally kicked Erap out of Malacañang in 2001 and why, in 2010 the same man almost became the next president of the Philippines.
Put on a little bit of music, crank up the volume and issue a bit of encouragement…
Sayaw Pinoy, sayaw…
…and the next circus is on.
Contrary to popular belief, Filipinos are an easy people to govern. You just need to be all showbiz. And that is where my next epiphany hit me…
Kaya pala “Showbiz Government”!
The mighty Showbiz Government Facebook page (in excess of 28,000 followers as of this writing) seem to make this whole simple point of what the Philippines and its government is all about. We really are just one big disco nation — loud music sponsored by the public service playing all day and we all mindlessly dancing to its beat and humming to its tune while the really important issues simply fly way over our heads.
I must say, after spending a couple of years just being a mere follower and lurker in the wondrous ecosystem that is the GRP Universe, it is only now — as a writer — that I am beginning to connect the dots, the dots being the various terms and phrases I repeatedly see in the different articles I’ve been reading here…
– vacuous
– Sayaw Pinoy, sayaw
– outrage fad
– Showbiz Government
– Platform Plez
– irony
– Da Pinoy condition
…among others.
To me, these words and phrases just used to be no more than colorful metaphors and descriptive devices that added that unique spicy flavor to GRP articles. But now they have become components of a beautiful mental picture that has formed in my mind of that Pinoy Condition various writers here often mention.
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
Johnny Nash “I Can See Clearly Now”
(Theme song from the film Cool Runnings)
I wish Filipinos will sing this song and take its lyrics to heart instead of simply dancing to the beat of the mind-clouding music our retailers and politicians shove down our ear canals.
Frustrated artist doing geek for a living.
hwag kang gawa ng gawa ng kwento. Nanalo si PNoy hndi dahil sa sounds na sinasabi mo, nanalo sya dahil magagalit ang taumbayan sa mga kumorap sa gobyerno at si Aquino lamang ang makakalutas nito. Hinuhuli na ang mga nagnakaw (Gloria and Corona) at sunod sunod na ang mga makukulong pa.
Nanalo lang siya dahil tanga lang mga tao na katulad MO. Nanalo lang siya dahil namatay ang nanay niya. Nanalo lang siya dahil madaling mauto ang tao na katulad MO. Napipikon ka lang dahil totoo ang sinasabi namin. Wala ka lang ibang magawa kundi sisi ng sisi. Isa ka talagang napakabobo at inutil na TROLL.
nanalo siya kasi hindi sya tiwaling opisyal
Nanalo siya kasi namatay ang nanay niya. Yan parin ba ang sasabihin mo? Wala lang siguro maibigay sa iyo si carandang kaya inuulit mo lang ang post mo.
Fact: He won because he’s an Aquino and since he bears that family name, he can be considered as ‘clean’.
BOBO mo nga talaga. Well, kumusta na ang HACIENDA LUISITA? 😛
Ayos ang lahat ng sinabi mo… agree ako, kasi nung ipinapalabas pa lang sa tv yung burol ni saint cory e naisip ko na ding nako, kakandidato si abnoy at mananalo ito dahil sa mentality ng mga tao na mahilig sumimpatya… namatay si ninoy, naging presidente ang cory, ngayun, namatay si cory, presidente ang abnoy.. taena… mga pilipino talaga… daling mauto, nakakalungkot…
Tatlong taon na si Noy sa gobyerno pero nandyan parin ang korupsyon. Yan ba ang matatawag mong mahusay? Walang sapat na ebidensya laban kay gloria at corona kaya nadidismiss kaagad ang kaso. Yan ba ang matatawag mong mahusay na pangulo? Tago ng tago habang may hostage crisis, YAN ba ang matatawag mo na mahusay na pangulo?
malaki ang iniwang pinsala ng nakaraang administrasyon kaya it will take time. Jailing Arroyo is one step.
Wala ka lang talaga mapost kaya ayan ka nanaman, napaka predictable ka talaga. Di mo talaga tanggap na tanga ka lang.
Not just Arroyo. Get everybody. Don’t just look at the biggest leak. Take the smallest ones too. ALL OF IT. Before and after so you show no bias to it at all. Local AND national.
So ang pinsala talaga ay hindi palagi kay Arroyo. Ang SISTEMA mismo. Baka hindi mo alam siguro kung ano’ng ibig sabihin ng SISTEMA, no? 😛
Farce. Don’t you know that PNoy’s platform is more like a farce and the reason why he was voted because he an Aquino? Kahit marami ka pang ipakukulong (with trial by media bullsh*t which you are fond of), it’s not after all.
Kahirapan ng Pinoy ay hindi dulot ng corruption kundi katamaran, sobrang pagpa-party at kabobohan. But what do I expect from a paid Yellow Hack like yourself. Halos lahat ng posts mo, puro kuwentong gawa-gawa. As Jonas said, EXPRESS YOUR TRUE SELF. 😛
dahil kay arroyo kaya naghihirap ang bansa. Lahat kasi kinurakot nya
Paano mo nasabing kinurakot ni gloria ang bansa natin kung wala kang ebidensya?? Yan lang ba ang kaya mo? Napaka hina mo talaga
3 years na ang boss mo, marami paring mahirap. Bakit ba puro sisi lang ng sisi ang ginagawa ng boss mo?
Haaay nako. Matagal nang hirap ang bansa bago pa kay Arroyo.
The problem is the SYSTEM, not necessarily the people in it. 🙂
We all know that a society is composed of different groupings or classes. Since that is what make up a society, we should be able to distinguish one class from the other. We should be able to differentiate among several classes or types of crowd as to how they do things, think or react to external factors affecting their situation.
That is why we have what we call a, b, c, d etc. crowds. When you say “Filipinos are this or that” chances are readers will wonder who in particular are you talking about. Are you talking about people in the urban or rural area? Are you talking about the rich Pinoys or the masa? Are you talking about the young ones or the young once? Are you talking about people of particular region or culture, etc.? You have to be specific and clear as to who in particular have demonstrated actions you deemed deserving of criticisms or judgmental focus.
When you classify Filipinos as having the same frame of mind about a certain action, you are doing a disservice to your readers because you are not giving them the accurate description of what you are saying. Don’t be surprise if they will have an idea that you are exaggerating your statement to lean on your biased side.
I’m Pinoy and Catholic but I was not excited nor thrilled on the canonization thing that happened just recently. I understand and respect the enthusiasm and interest of the faithfuls. It’s a peaceful expression of spiritual celebration. They are not committing suicide or murder or destruction for me to make an issue out of it. I may not like it but I will never use it to degrade and belittle those who expresses themselves differently from mine.
The malls I frequent don’t have loud music or don’t have disco-like atmosphere. If I want to go to such place I can but it’s not my cup of tea. Clearly, it’s a matter of choice and not a matter of oneness when it comes to commercial environment.
So you see, generalization is fine so long as there is no intent to inflict biased views or hostile and unfair criticisms.
I agree with you. Years of reading and digesting one-sided propaganda and agreeing with people who have a single agenda and a one-issue mentality will surely bend and twist the kind of perspective and thinking you have on society in general and on people in particular.
We call that brainwashing.
Hehe, and THAT is what the biased media is doing: brainwashing Especially when we talk about a show called ‘Wil Time Big Time’.
Yes, if the beat is right, they will dance all night (or until the elections come around and there’s a new politician to dole out freebies).
Showbiz Government,you’ve got it! it is correct.Actors,producers,directors….a performance aka charade!
You might be missing one crucial part,they are all the same.As in No difference. All working together to perform a public spectacle that is entertaining,engaging and not at all insightful as far as what you never see.
Nice one young Lady!
@ Kate
Show me how and where you spend your 10 hour day period and I’ll tell you what you are.
You might think you are reflective but a person staring at you think otherwise.
I’d tell you how I spend my “10 hour day period” except that I don’t know you personally and neither do you know me. Take it easy, dude. 😉
Kate, in case you didn’t notice LA702 is full of wisdom and practical advice for GRP writers. Just like Jonas. People who disagree with writers here is normal because we tend to be opinionated people who do not play safe. One notch above that though is the LA702 / Jonas types who tell you what to say and how to say it Then there are the types a few notches above that in the illogical scale who still happen to be the Jonas/ LA702 type who still remain on this website despite never uttering an encouraging word. You call them at their game and they still get steamed. Lather rinse repeat.
@ Kate
A person like you who call “benignO” your boss, to me is another case of somebody incapable to think on her own but submits herself to “group thinking”, programmed like the rest of you people at GRP. To me, you are as worthless as the rest of you at GRP and you think blogging has made a difference in your life? Think again? Your personal introduction says it all: “frustrated artist doing geek for a living.”
If you still live with your parents, I would not think it appropriate for you to be giving your opinion on any subject…period.
Lol! And a person who’d latch on to a single phrase and use it to make a conclusion about me suffers from an even worse form of fallacious argumentation. 😀
For someone who considers everyone here “worthless” you certainly give us much of the time of your day. So unless you yourself are able to come up with your own blog site and elevate it to the exalted status of “rock star blog” (in Mr Paul Farol’s words), you’ll just have to keep visiting us here and sulk in the comment threads while the rest of us rock n’ roll. 😛
@Kate You tell ’em Sweetone!!!!AH HA HA… @LA 702,what is wrong with living with ones parents?Especially in an economically depressed country where earning a living ,enough to live decently, is almost impossible.
@LA702
How dare you intrude into her right to speak out! By virtue of your demand, you yourself do not deserve such a freedom. Besides, we have such a retort to your outrageous demand of Kate: “Make me! I dare you!”
All this vitriol spilt not on the topic at hand but on its creator, as if any flaws the creator has bears any relevance to whatever she says.
You know, Kate,
We could probably substitute a circus for what we have as a government and the people still won’t be able to tell the difference.
You did mention above that Pinoys aren’t known for being reflective as a people. Well, one of their behaviors can be described by a simple paradox:
“Stuck in the past but doomed to forget it”
We all know that a society is composed of different groupings or classes. Since that is what make up a society, we should be able to distinguish one class from the other. We should be able to differentiate among several classes or types of crowd as to how they do things, think or react to external factors affecting their situation.
That is why we have what we call a, b, c, d etc. crowds. When you say “Filipinos are this or that” chances are readers will wonder who in particular are you talking about. Are you talking about people in the urban or rural area? Are you talking about the rich Pinoys or the masa? Are you talking about the young ones or the young once? Are you talking about people of particular region or culture, etc.? You have to be specific and clear as to who in particular have demonstrated actions you deemed deserving of criticisms or judgmental focus.
When you classify Filipinos as having the same frame of mind about a certain action, you are doing a disservice to your readers because you are not giving them the accurate description of what you are saying. Don’t be surprise if they will have an idea that you are exaggerating your statement to lean on your biased side.
I’m Pinoy and Catholic but I was not excited nor thrilled on the canonization thing that happened just recently. I understand and respect the enthusiasm and interest of the faithfuls. It’s a peaceful expression of spiritual celebration. They are not committing suicide or murder or destruction for me to make an issue out of it. I may not like it but I will never use it to degrade and belittle those who expresses themselves differently from mine.
The malls I frequent don’t have loud music or don’t have disco-like atmosphere. If I want to go to such place I can but it’s not my cup of tea. Clearly, it’s a matter of choice and not a matter of oneness when it comes to commercial environment.
So you see, generalization is fine so long as there is no intent to inflict biased views or hostile and unfair criticisms.
I agree with you. Years of reading and digesting one-sided propaganda and agreeing with people who have a single agenda and a one-issue mentality will surely bend and twist the kind of perspective and thinking you have on society in general and on people in particular.
We call that brainwashing.
To quote Ilda. “yet here you are ” . Obi Wan Kenobi had a saying ” who is more foolish? The fool or the fool that follows?”
Every time I put up a post, you talk about my ‘multiple IDs’ and ask why I’m here. Gogs, aren’t you embarrassed by that?
Why can’t you focus on issues? I already answered all those silly questions but you still can’t move on. Grow up, man.
Someone have asked that yet that guy went to attack the writers through character assassination, under the guise of ‘criticism’.
Is that what you are doing all this time? I hope not
Talk is cheap. Show your evidence Daido. But if I were you I’ll focus on the issue because that is what I’m doing here.
Those things that you read from me with regard to the writers here are my mere response to the offensive remarks thrown in my direction. So rather than talk about off topics, go back on the issue and let the webmaster take care of non-issues.
You’re focusing on issues yet you applaud on the current president’s blunders. No wonder why you got most of the offensive remarks from the writers since you never agree on your views which is full of pro-Noynoy bias and defending propaganda-spouting douches like fishball/dapitan/bayan patroller, etc.
BTW, is that what the present Aquino admin is doing, focusing more on PERSONALITIES than issues?
Double standard much.
Thank you, I really focus on issues. With regard to ‘applauding the president’s blunder’, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
You are right, I get offensive and personal remarks because I do not agree with what I read. You want me to agree with the majority who write anti-Noynoy/gov’t. issues? I’m sorry I cannot do that. I only call what I see. Unlike you guys, my mind is clear and balance.
I do not want to be called an Anti-Pinoy wannabee. I don’t aspire to become a copycat.
I write because I see the word “reply” on every post that I read that I don’t agree with. Unlike you guys, there is nothing personal in what I’m doing. I understand you’ll get pikon and hot under the collar. Well, if you can dish it, you should be able to receive the same. Actually, you guys are more brutal than those you bully. You call names, insults, delete the posts and do a lot of dirty tactics. I don’t do such things.
I play fair and clean, if I can help it.
You keep on saying on “he’s doing a good job” , while he wasn’t. Berating on his political enemies, making him acting like a spoiled brat, anti-corruption talk all over yet never checked on his ignorance about the corruption is what a good leader does *sarcasm*
Even the former president is just keep focusing on doing her job rather than those ‘petty’ issues. And since the Da Pinoy’s brain is like a thick skull to crack, you can’t help but to go on insults from them because of one thing: “If someone tries to educate Filipinos then they thought of it as an insult to their intelligence.”
Jonas, you play fair and clean like your idol Noynoy. Noynoy Calls people with pending cases guilty or innocent. You perform shotgun insults with multiple dis. Like that time you called me a liar. Earning yourself another ip/ I d ban. That is a specific evidence. All your creativity is spent on coming up with variations on the name Jonas. The multiple I d s should be a hint to all but the most dense .
@jonas: Simple question to you then: Since you do not see my “generalizations” on the pa-disco nature of most public spaces in the Philippines as “accurate”, then why don’t you tell us here your view of what an “accurate” generalized description of the Pinoy character is? That is, if you can rise above your small-minded focus on the little blades of grass that prevents you from seeing the broad topology of the overall BIGGER PICTURE.
As you said, you prefer not to go to places with disco-like atmospheres because these are not your cup of tea. The observation I make is that most public places in the Philippines are in fact disco-like in atmosphere from which I conclude that most Pinoys do like such disco-like atmospheres.
The fact that YOU do not prefer these disco-like atmosphere DOES NOT CHANGE the generalization that most Pinoys are attracted to disco-like atmospheres and therefore fit MY thesis that Pinoys are an air-headed bunch of folk with nothing but thumpity-thump music filling their heads.
Small minds. Lol! For someone who does not like disco-like establishments you certainly come across as someone who likes disco. 😀
The thing I like with all the GRP bloggers is they don’t lose their poise he he he…
Cool na cool.
We are Wowoowee people. Some have deriorated already to YellowTards…
Jonas rages against generalization
He’s also a slow learner. He hasn’t worked out yet to this day what gets his comments banned. 😀
benigs, not a slow learner. Jonass is a certified lousy idiot. And don’t forget the word pompous.
Jonass is a shameless dud. (And there’s this another new kid in town.)
Can you update the comment readers, if it will not be a burden, on how many of his IP addresses here are banned already? The funny thing is he’s still with his idiocy of changing his handle he he he…
What a lousy idiot.
I’ve read in my inbox that this certified lousy idiot jonass is was in victimhood mood again. I’m not sure if it was deleted by the webmaster or his particular comment is in the other post.
Nevertheless, the bottom line, his rant is about those who are criticizing him here in this blog are not contributing any thought on the issue but just getting personal with him.
One of his idiotic styles, posting the same comment in different posts –
October 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm
“benignoy, I don’t mind people correcting me for that is the game we all play. I know you don’t want me here. I’m just trying to help improve the product, guys. Obviously, you cannot let your writers fight and argue for their views. You always have to come in for rescue to the point of being rude and nasty. Fine, but how long will you do that?
If the other party is not making sense, why is there a need for you to come in and perform the fishwife role? Let your writers prove their worth on the board and let everybody grow up.
I CAN ALWAYS LEAVE WITHOUT QUESTION IF YOU’LL JUST ASK.”
Webmaster’s reply:
October 26, 2012 at 2:23 pm
“Dude, how can you say you “can always leave without question†when I’ve already kicked you out many times only to have you kicking and screaming outside the door (in the spam queue, in message boards outside, and even opening a Twitter account only for that purpose) demanding to be let back in.
Be a little less Filipino and grow a little class for a change dude. You’re running out of IP addresses and making it tough for yourself to satisfy your pathetic addiction to making idiotic comments here. Suffice to say it takes a bit of intelligence to get that — something you obviously don’t have much of.”
He reposted the same again in a different post (take note of the time stamp)
October 26, 2012 at 2:42 pm
The webmaster’s reply:
October 26, 2012 at 2:45 pm
“Thanks. You can kiss this latest IP Address of yours good bye now. See ya!”
That is his thought that he is very proud of.
What a lousy idiot!
Jonas is really an anagram for Jason. As in Friday the 13th, . Jonas is like the poor in the Gospel.as in the poor will never leave us.
I like Kate Natividad’s blog post. It’s light yet has an impact to the reader. Like a drizzle, enough to get you wet.
The lower class lack education and refinement as we in the art and entertainment industry would call it. I can’t hold that against them though, it’s the hand they were dealt with. If they would be more educated, they would have the cognition to understand “higher” levels of entertainment.
Case in point: an educated person would understand and possibly relate to the deepness in Cash’s lyrics, whereas a non-educated person will probably only understand the lyrics in a superficial way.
This wouldn’t happen though if the government wasn’t so corrupt and would focus more on education and development.
Months after you wrote this. It is so prophetic. In light of things like Cebu Airlines non answer answers on that runway incident and of course Nancy Binay you have summed up the mindset of this culture. What it accepts and what it propogates.