From these articles, it can be surmised that majority of Filipino society seems to treat its children quite poorly. Contrary to being “child-friendly”, it seems that our apparent “wholesomeness” is just a front for more disturbing aspects of our society. Of course, I know that there will be those out there who will once again go into denial and pretend that the Philippines deeply cares for the welfare and happiness of its children even when its actions and attitude towards the little folk seem to say otherwise. Well then ladies and gentlemen, let’s have it out now because if anyone’s going to start change in our country, it’s going to have to be parents and how they raise their children.
We Kill The Imagination Of Our Children
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I grew up during the 90’s and, back in those days, having fancy gadgets to play with was a rarity. Heck, I never even got started on video games until I was 12 or so. Anyway, while I didn’t have many cool toys, my grandfather imparted to me something that no new-fangled gaming console ever could: a powerful imagination. Of course, I’ve always had an imagination, but my grandfather saw it fit to feed my imagination. We would sit for hours at a time, with him reading to me stories like Treasure Island, A Christmas Carol, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (which still scares me to this day) and Moby Dick. Anyway, my father never really understood and often wondered why, even when I lived with a well-to-do family, I didn’t even have a Gameboy. My mother, however, did understand and one of my happiest memories was when she used a bunch of cardboard boxes and tinfoil to make me a robot costume with a roll of red cartolina for my sword. While I know I must’ve looked really idiotic back then, pretending to be a giant robot with my Lego set as people, it was probably one of the brightest moments of my childhood.
To this day, my imagination continues to be a powerful force in my life and has helped me tremendously in spicing up my school reports and inspirational speeches. While my grandfather doesn’t tell me stories anymore (although he still loves his books), I’ve found the joy of storytelling to be as equally gratifying as reading or hearing a story. Whether it’s telling a spooky story here on GRP or Wattpad, narrating nasty erotica/porn in [DATA EXPUNGED], telling funny stories to classmates or acting as a GM for various RPG’s, I will go on to say that there’s nothing like sharing a good story with people.
Remember, imagination is the key to creativity and that, by feeding one’s imagination, one feeds one’s creativity, allowing them to come up with new and interesting ideas to improve themselves and those around them. As I’ve said in a previous article, I believe that one of the chief concerns about children in our country is improving their imaginations by showing them creative and educational programming.
Unfortunately, as I’ve cited in another article, if there’s anything we Filipinos excel in, it’s destroying the minds of our youth. Instead of presenting to them unique ideas that will help them improve their worldview as they grow older, we instead bombard them with themes of immorality from our teleseryes and cruel humor from our crass game shows. While some claim that there are “lessons” to be learned in some of our local programs, these are few and far between and are easily overshadowed by the unwholesome elements, both implied and overt, in many of our shows which center on sexuality, dishonesty and violence.
We Look At Childhood With Contempt
I don’t really understand it myself, but a lot of typical Pinoys often have a wrong conception of what it means to be “mature”. I’ve mentioned this all before but allow me to say it again for those who missed it, a good number of us seem to think that enjoying animated programs and collecting toys is “childish” while producing dozens upon dozens of children without thought of their future and overindulging in various destructive vices is “mature”.
Let me remind you that the real definition of being childish is refusing to be corrected and seeing the world in an overly simplistic manner. Being “mature” is about being willing to take responsibility for the mistakes one makes and atoning for them and seeing things from different perspectives. Also, there is nothing wrong with enjoying escapist entertainment so long as one still has a strong grasp of reality and the consequences of what they do. A good example of immaturity is when one fails to know the difference between reality and what is merely propaganda or entertainment and seeing people as simply “all good” or “all bad” without considering the possibility of said people falling somewhere in between.
We Do Not Protect Them From Sexual Immorality
I actually find the idea that the Philippines being “child-friendly” as completely laughable. Sure, the MTRCB keeps stuff they consider “immoral” out of local TV (like anime, for instance) but what do they replace it with? Themes of illicit relationships and teen pregnancy? I could go on and on about this but what good would it do, eh?
On our local programming, we seem utterly oblivious to things like sexualization of children and the highly suggestive advances that Vice Ganda makes to young contestants on noon-time TV. Some of us even outright cheer this on as if it’s completely normal for grown men to make sexual advances to children of both sexes and we don’t even raise a brow when our media uses very young actors and actresses for roles that are often risque or subtly sexual.
What’s worse is that while our local media can go on and on about “wholesome entertainment” but make no visible effort to control the explosion of porn in our country. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if a good number of Pinoys watching Pornhub are underage and are influenced into engaging in similar activities.
I HAVE RETURNED TO LAY WASTE TO OUR ENEMIES!
It is hard to humble ourselves and admit to our mistakes because we are afraid to be judge by people around us.(Seeing people as simply “all good” or “all bad” without considering the possibility of said people falling somewhere in between.) You’re right Grimwald about the difference of maturity and childishness. We just do not want recognize that fact.
10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12 – this is about cognitive development of children in general and what should be avoided.
My mother didn’t let me watch to much TV as a child, and this study confirms that children shouldn’t do certain things too much too early.
I think too much Internet is definitely bad as well during the time when real literacy has not yet developed through books. Those who have true literacy can use the Internet as a good tool though. But the best thing for getting ones head clear and ones spirits up again even as an adult is a week without any media – not even reading – and in nature.
Which reminds me of a surprising fact about Steve Jobs: his kids didn’t use iPads.
An insight into responsible parenting, here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html?_r=0
Ang sex daw ay “bastos” at “malaswa”, pero ang dame mong makikita o maririnig na sexual innuendo at subliminal messages sa society natin, most especially sa media. Puro mga palabas tungkol sa mga affair, habang pinagmamalaki ang pagiging “mabuting tao” or “maka diyos” nila. Naalala ko yung ngiti ni Bong Revilla sa tv nung hinusgahan niya si Hayden Kho bilang isang taong “bastos/manyak”, isa kasi siyang napakalinis at mabuting nilalang, tulad ng Philippine media
Children aren’t the hope of our nation anymore than they are a curse.
” Youth is wasted on the young…”, they used to say. Childhood comes only once in a lifetime. It was the time to: play, run around, free of any responsibility, imagine what life would be as an adult, time to grow up and mature, etc…Those with good and normal childhood, mostly grow to become normal and successful human beings.
Some of us, do not grow up; and become retarded, mentally and emotionally…they even become Presidents.
Just raise them right, children are easier to talk to than adults, I realize this when I firmly put some boundaries raising my nephew, I don’t promise him anything unless I will really do it. For example, I only bring him sweets as pasalubong every Saturday, so the rest of the week he knows that even if he ask, he knows I will not give it to him. Sometimes he will ask pasalubong and I will just say what will be the day tomorrow and if it is not Saturday, he respects it and move on. But hell will come to me if I don’t adhere to that so I make sure not to forget. And affirming to them what is right and wrong at the young age (my nephew is 6 years old) they could understabd it already, unlike the perception of most adults that we have to be lenient because they are children, I think we are wrong on that. Besides you don’t need to have an iron fist to discipline a child, just be firm on your decisions and be an example. A no is a No and a yes is a Yes, I never thought that discipling a child is that easy until my nephew. And talk to them like they are adults, they have so many logical questions that makes you think as well, they are really fun to talk to, in a sensible way. When my nephew ask questions, sometimes I thought, “oo nga naman, bakit nga ba ganun?”
@ccc,
why are you raising somebody else’s kid?
he is my nephew and my sister is living in U.K. she is still saving money for his visa, i know the culture difference will be a problem in understanding some family dynamics here in ph, but that is our situation here.
@CCC,
Some time ago I read or heard about things like that (in your country). Maybe even worse, I heard about it in a situation that all parties are in your country and that sisters A & B (or nieces) start doing the raising and bringing up of a kid belonging to sister C. Because sister C is seemingly unfit and unable to raise a kid (she doesnt know how to raise a kid properly).
Back to your situation:
“I know the culture difference will be a problem in understanding some family dynamics here in ph, …”
You are damned right about that. In my country we will first save the money for the visa and only then we will migrate to the UK (for whatever reason/cause).
You see the difference?
In other words: we will never let the raising be done by others. Also from a practical point of view. Its highly likely that you have your own life (work, partner, your own kids, hobby, your own friends) so its basically an intrusion on your privacy and might turn your own world upside down.
Finally, the mother and father of the child (your sister and the biological dad) are the responsible parties of their own child.
BTW: where is the biological father of the child? You dont mention him at all.
@CCC,
A similar kind of situation, was for me the start to end my relationship with my pinay GF.
Setting:
a pinay guy is married to/with a pinay woman. The woman is working abroad (Hong Kong) as an overseas Filipina worker (OFW), while the man is in the Philippines. One day the guy gets into a coma.
My (then) GF starts to do everything for this guy what supposed to have been by the guy’s wife. Of course, we have to give the wife time to get back to the Philippines. But she doesnt leave Hong Kong at all. So, again, my GF does do really everything (talk to doctors, arrange the proper medicines etc etc).
Yes, my GF was related (nephew – niece or uncle – niece or something like that) to the guy. But it is and was the wife’s responsibility to return back home and take care of him.
The Philippine society is abusive towards their children because they keep teaching them the same corrupt cultural values: aristocracy (kahambugan) and self-servingness (kanya-kanya).
One thing that makes Filipino adults cruel to children is that they likely see children as lower forms of creatures. If you are a child, you are something lower, like an animal. So the treatment of children is somewhat like a pet. Filipinos thus don’t see children as people who deserve rights. They thus make children as something like slaves or something they can use at will. This is something I attribute to the primitive culture of many Filipinos from the rural areas not changing after so many years, even centuries.
And if all Failipino women banded together and took the male path, the Failippines would turn into one huge brothel.
I find it hilarious that someone who watches anime would complain about immoralities. Sorry, but gotta call you out on that double standard.
Well, to be honest, some anime are ALSO immoral. I tend to think “Needless” is probably one of them. However, I will say that there are MANY kinds of anime, all of them revolving around different things. There’s anime for kids, for teens and for adults.
However, our teleseryes tend to focus too much on themes of dysfunction. Of course, there are some that are worth the look. “Probsinsyano”, for instance, hearkens back to old Pinoy action films. However, the rest are, well, THE REST…
So yeah, some anime aren’t good for kids but there are also some that are. Unfortunately for common teleseryes, I don’t even know whom they’re for. They’re too simply for adults like me and tend to have misleading concepts for younger audiences.
I’ll consider your criticism when they start having teleseryes with more substantial content… 😉
I have no love for Filipino dramas, but the way you put anime on a pedestal as the end all be all of intellectual media is a bit misleading. Have to watch out for that. There are a lot of anime that is entertaining and enlightening, but keep in mind that the majority is also aimed at the lowest common denominator. Same goes for video games and books nowadays.
Yes, there seems to be a quantity and quality issue with teleseryes in that they are both mutually lacking. I partly blame it on the culture and environment as well, in that creative writing is pretty much a non existence when you talk about the arts there. It’s always singing and dancing. And even then, music is limited to pop. Try having a discussion with the average Juan about Haydn, Dvorak or even Mozart and you’d be greeted with glass fish eyes.
Yep, I know the feeling. A major frustration for me is that foreigners, for instance the Swedish, are very proud of their folk music. They even mix it with modern genres and have what they call “folk metal” which is a mix of folk music and heavy metal.
However, in the Philippines, people are utterly ashamed of their folk music, as it it’s some kind of embarrassment…
That’s because Filipino folk music is not socially sophisticated enough for the discriminating taste of our aristocratic countrymen, who want the world to see them as regal and modern urbanites, instead of indigenous tribesmen.
@Aeta:
I want to ask these people what’s wrong with being an indigenous tribesman. Vikings are indigenous tribesmen, Cossacks are indigenous tribesmen, Ainu are indigenous tribesmen, Cherokee are indigenous tribesmen, Swingers are… Wait. I don’t think that last counts.
Anyway, what’s so wrong about being an indigenous tribesman? I’m not ashamed to admit before my foreign friends that I was born and raised in a third-world country.
The image of a half naked jungle warrior (which is seen as a stereotype among Filipino city slickers of people from the provinces) isn’t really something that resonates well to being “cultured” and Filipino folk music kinda encompasses that.
@Kin
But don’t you see, that’s us. Again, that is another show of blatant denial. That’s like me denying that I was ever an annoying, snotty, spoiled and bratty teen. The truth of the matter is that that was me once upon a time and I accept it. I have just chosen to be someone better today.
@Grimwald,
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being indigenous tribesmen. That’s where all Filipinos came from and we owe it to ourselves to identify with our aborigine culture and be proud of it (hint: this also the reason why I assumed the screen name of “Aeta,” to make our people realize their affliction with their aristocratic attitude and way of life).
I personally believe that the problems with Filipinos today is they are so hung up on their foreign lineages and colonial history (mainly Hispanic and Caucasian)–because of its perceived global attractiveness and sophistication–that they simultaneously ignore and undermine their own indigenous background, try to replace their tribal culture with something that is not their own, and are in steep competition with one another on who get to a complete cultural transformation first.
Aeta
@Grimwald,
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being indigenous tribesmen. That’s where all Filipinos came from and we owe it to ourselves to identify with our aborigine culture and be proud of it (hint: this also the reason why I assumed the screen name of “Aeta,” to make our people realize their affliction with their aristocratic attitude and way of life).
I personally believe that the problems with Filipinos today is they are so hung up on their foreign lineages and colonial history (mainly Hispanic and Caucasian)–because of its perceived global attractiveness and sophistication–that they simultaneously ignore and undermine their own indigenous background, try to replace their tribal culture with something that is not their own, and are in steep competition with one another on who gets to a complete cultural/lineage transformation first.
Aeta
What if I say I have stronger roots to Chinese merchants and Spanish colonialists? Despite the Malays and aborigines being the “native settlers,” the Philippines became home to a lot of ethnic groups that don’t necessarily identify themselves with loincloth wearing spear chuckers so I can’t out of good conscience support you and aeta’s arguments to this.
@Kin
Okay, for a better idea of what I’m talking about…
What Should Happen
Foreigner: Hey, you’re a Filipino, right? Are you perhaps an Igorot or Aeta?
Filipino: Oh, heck no. My ancestors were Chinese. However, I do understand if I look like one of them. Heck, I might even have Igorot or Aeta blood in my veins.
What Actually Happens
Foreigner: Hey, you’re a Filipino, right? Are you perhaps an Igorot or Aeta?
Filipino: NOOOOOOOOOO! DON’T COMPARE ME TO THOSE SAVAGES! THEY’RE AN ENTIRE CLASS/RACE DIFFERENT FROM ME! I’M A CIVILIZED PROFESSIONAL AND NOT SOME INDIGENOUS TRIBESMAN!
You Go, Grimwald! Tell it how it really is. Kin’s argument is the same argument made by every Filipino who had ever walked this earth. They’re only Filipinos by name, or whenever the Philippines is recognized forin the international arena like boxing or beauty pageants, but their main point of reference, as to which ethnicity to identify with to define who they are, is always foreign.
@Kin,
Your last comment proves my point that Filipinos–whether they are full-bloodied or not –are not wholeheartedly tied to the Philippines and one another, and are only in the country to fleece it for what it’s worth, in order to serve themselves and lead an aristocratic life. Is it any wonder why the Philippines, and its disbanded people, is doomed for all eternity?
Aeta
@ Grimwald and Aeta
While, I’m all for unification over the betterment of the Philippines, you can’t just lump everyone there into having a common ancestry. For example in my case, I’ve looked into my family tree and it’s mostly been transplants from other countries. Virtually no Aeta in my line. But guess what? I was born and raised in the Philippines. Your line of thinking is the same deal with Japanese thinking everyone there was descended from the Yamatos. To throw back the Ainu example, they’re more closely related to Russians than the Mongol populace that comprise the Yamato people. How do you go about that?
I’m not trying to butt heads here, but you can’t just lump every citizen of a nation into having one mutual ancestry. That’s not any better from misplaced Pinoy Pride that the site constantly been criticizing for.
Kin,
I have to lump ALL Filipinos in the same category because they–directly and indirectly–have something to do on why the Philippines and the Filipinos are the way they are today. I can’t blame one and not the other—and you, me, and everyone who calls themselves a Filipino are all included in that equation.
Aeta
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you can just mash everyone together for having even a minute of aeta blood or they happen to be born in a land where the majority used to live. Might as well call everyone African because humanity originated there.
Kin,
I am not concerned a about other ethnicities, nor try to cushion the blow by including African or other countries into the picture, when talking about what’s wrong with my own people.
Too many Failipinos are already good at pointing fingers at each other on who’s really fucking their own country up.
So, to avoid that problem, I’m just going to lump all of us Failipinos into two categories (aristocratic and self-serving) that fuck our country up.
Aeta
Okay Kin, remember we talked a bit about anime up there in the earlier sections? I’m gonna bring this up because I think it’s important…
In the anime “Shaman King”, there is a character there named Horo-Horo who is an Ainu. He is with his sister, “Pirika” I think her name was. Ethnic jokes aside, both characters were treated with respect by the show and were never made fun of, depicted as ugly or whacked over the head for no good reason. They were more or less treated as equals to the rest of the cast.
In local TV, I have yet to see a show where they would treat our natives as ACTUAL people and not as primitive savages or comic reliefs. Thing is, this maltreatment and contempt of indigenous people has to stop and our media isn’t exactly helping with that image.
Grimwald,
You are absolutely right. Our indigenous people –or any dark, short, and broad featured Filipinos–have always been the butt of jokes (or “comic relief”) by our aristocratic population. This condescending treatment is a direct reflection of how we Filipinos prefer to see ourselves (even if it’s not true): a westernized Asians with Hispanic and/or Caucasian lineages and sophistication. The truth is we are just a mongrel race (second-class citizens) in the eyes of western societies, and are only in steep competition with our fellow Filipinos on who will be at the top of the social “food chain” in the Philippines and abroad.
Aeta
Using Shaman King as an example has just amount of substance as using a Looney Toons cartoon to accurately depict native Americans. Instead of anime, can you please mention articles, documentaries or anything that can be regarded as a proper source? Seems like you’re not getting the big picture here.
Historically up until now, the ainu have been discriminated and looked down upon by the majority mainstream Japanese society much like the Aeta in the Philippines. They are regarded as bearded, backward mountain men and were pretty much just used for manual labor. While there is increasing awareness and betterment of their treatment, they are still seen as a sort of alien identity.
It’s a different reality from the romanticized caricature from Shaman King right? Actually, Horo is made to be a patronizing caricature that can be somewhat offensive. So yeah, Japan and the Philippines are on the same boat here in regards to ethnic elitism. Isn’t that funny?
Well, there was that other kid of African origin they didn’t treat too well now that I recall…
Okay, here’s what might be a better example then. I know it’s just fiction but I’m putting it up here anyway. There’s an old novel (I forgot the title, sorry. I’ll look it up though.) I’ve read about marine biologists. The book has two protagonists, a typical white guy and his sidekick, a man of Cherokee descent. While the latter might be a “sidekick” (he is the white guy’s assistant) his boss treats him with respect. He dresses in modern clothing and, according to the book’s descriptions, he would look something like Dwayne Johnson. He is also shown to be much more competent than his boss as the poor white man is still recovering from his recent divorce. Native American dude is also more tech savvy than his boss and makes every opportunity to make fun of the white guy’s inability to use and understand touch-screen technology.
However, while you may be correct, I still like the way they treated Horo. You know, NOT whacking him on the head.
Now that I have time to really think about it, what is it with whacking people on the head that’s so funny? Can’t our producers and filmmakers come up with anything better? I know it’s slapstick but that kind of show just makes it look like that it’s okay to whack people who aren’t like you…