Who wants to be a Filipino?
If you were to be reincarnated and given the choice, would you opt to be Filipino again? It was in 1998, at a Forum of students of top schools at the University of Asia and the Pacific, that I raised this question. As expected, everybody, except me, gave a resounding yes for an answer.
Hypocrites! I could see from the way they talked, from the clothes they wore, from their ideas of what was good and beautiful, that even in this lifetime they were dying to camouflage their being Filipino. Thanks to Ralph Lauren, a colonial education and a "trying-hard" American accent.
I told them that I want to be European, a Frenchman more specifically. Yes, Europe--with its rich history, solid identity, and all the luxury and elegance this world could offer.
I have been there once for the world debates in Greece. But being Filipino, I was a disaster then. During socials, I would befriend the Jamaicans so I would stand out. But it was a wrong move because Jamaicans, notwithstanding their darker skin tone, are very secure with themselves.
When I and fellow Filipinos were walking in downtown Athens, a young Greek approached our group and casually told us that he intended to go to the Philippines to f--k Filipinas. Then he kept on asking us: "How much are Filipinas?"
Did he expect us to adore him because a fine European like him wanted to visit a country whose people they officially defined as Domestic Helpers? Or was he simply being mean? I wish he were just referring to the controversial brown biscuit.
Hellish traffic, hellish climate, hell-sent politicians, gangsters in uniform, hoodlums in robe, massive unemployment, inhumane poverty, identity crisis, a tradition of mediocrity. Get real. Who would want to be Filipino? Maybe the Cojuangcos, the Sys, the Tans and the other demigods whose surnames do not sound Filipino at all. But this Yumul, no.
My Uncle Jessie is lucky: he and the whole family migrated to the United States in the early 1970s, to graze where the grass is greener and live there as second class citizens but occasionally come home like gods crowned with sparkling dollars.
Then there is Me-Ann, one of the tinderas in our small business. She thinks that her main purpose in life is to go to Taiwan and earn money she will never earn in a lifetime of labor in the Philippines. I feel sad to know that Me-Ann and millions of Filipinos have to leave the country just to live decently. Some say though that despite our material poverty, we could take pride in our spirituality since the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. But it continues to puzzle me why this Catholic Nation has only produced two saints so far while Thailand, Japan and China--all non-Christian countries--have more. Maybe, unlike Filipinos, people from those nations have more sensible things to do than creating miracles by desperately looking for images in the stains of tree trunks and forcing statues to shed bloody tears.
I have always been pessimistic about the fate of the Filipino. But there was a break. I gave in to the Nationalistic Spirit during the Centennial Celebrations. When fireworks, worth millions of pesos, lit up the skies over the Luneta, I had high hopes that the Philippines would be better and I decided to junk my pessimism. I thought a new era of Filipino pride had dawned.
In my college years, I was also influenced by San Beda's thrust of molding young men in the image of a true Filipino like some of its alumni whose ranks include Ninoy Aquino, Rene Saguisag, Ramon Mitra, and Raul Roco, who should have been the president of this country.
Yes, for some time, I was deluded into being proud of being Filipino. Thanks to President Erap, I have recovered my senses. His Excellency has betrayed the people's trust so many times that I need not elaborate. Erap has become for me the symbol of everything that is bad in the Filipino. In his administration, corruption and chaos have become the norm so that writing about it would only bore the reader. It's just too bad for the nation but good for me since I got back my precious pessimism.
Now I am firmly convinced that Erap has to resign to save what is left of our dignity as a nation and what is left of my optimism as a young man. But, I guess he will never do that. Congress is dominated by honorable galamays, impeachment is an impossibility. A military coup could save the day for the country, but, in that case, Uncle Sam is sure to defend his friend who handed him the Visiting Forces Agreement. Now, we are left with assassins to play heroes. If one saves the lives of millions, would he not go to heaven? But then Erap need have no fear about an assassination plot. Imelda, despite all the crimes her family committed against the Filipino people, has never been hurt. Not even a strand of her regal hairdo has been touched. But of course, there are always firsts.
According to Hindu philosophy, what you sow in this life, you would reap in the next and whatever you are now is a reaction to your past. Could it be that all Filipinos were crooks in their earlier incarnations? If there is any reason why I try to do well in this life, it is in the hope that in my next, I would be a Filipino no more.
If it would not be too much to ask, I wish I would be French, or even Jamaican, before Jinggoy Estrada becomes president of this wretched land.Hay... Bakit ba tayo ganito? Bakit sa kung sino pa ang kalahi e tinutulungan pa niyang pabagsakin ang bansa imbes na tulungan itong makaahon?
In the same way, LaSallians are proud to be from La Salle. And the UP Maroons are proud to have studied in UP, and the students from FEU, UST, Adamson, National University, and the University of the East, I'm willing to bet, are proud of being from their respective schools. That's natural. That's fine.
But there's something wrong with the way Ateneans project their pride. To them it's like they're better because they're from Ateneo. When they are defeated, they look at the trophy they failed to win and then they look at the winner and they say, "At least, we're from THE Ateneo". And the rest of us look at them and think, "So what?"
The worst part is these jerks don't get it that we don't get what they're so fucking proud of. They say stuff like "I have a diploma from Ateneo" or "I graduated from Ateneo". Big fucking deal. We all have or will have diplomas. We all graduated or will graduate from somewhere. What are they trying to say?
That their diploma is better than ours? Why the fuck would that be? Because they come from an extremely proud school? But what exactly are they proud of? Losing? In what field does Ateneo excel above all others? I really want to know. They're obviously not the most athletic school. There is no evidence that they're better than any of the top schools in the Philippines, academically speaking. Where did they get that idea anyway? That they have superior academics? What kind of grass are they growing in those fields? And why is their administration letting them smoke it?
And why do they refer to their school as "THE Ateneo". What kind of fucked up English are they teaching there? Not even the biggest universities in the United States refer to themselves this way. Ever hear anyone say that they graduated from "THE Harvard" or that they have a degree from "THE Stanford". If we follow their logic, then I guess we can now refer to "THE Adamson" and "THE Far Eastern". You motherfuckers. Where did they teach you to use the word "THE" anyway? What dickhead of a professor told you it's okay to use "THE" before a proper noun? Do you know when "THE" is commonly used before a proper noun? When you refer to something totally distinct. Like "THE Michael Jordan". So when you motherfuckers refer to "THE Ateneo", I guess we should all just assume that you're referring to that school on Katipunan with the turkey on the gym? And not the Law School or some Ateneo school God-knows-where. Because otherwise, we'd have to reach the conclusion that you actually believe your school to be above the.
And that, motherfuckers, is just pure arrogance considering there is NO proof that it is.
Believe it, assholes. Only in Ateneo is Ateneo "THE Ateneo". Everywhere else, Ateneo's just another school. Don't go claiming you're better unless you can prove it. And no, shitheads, it's not enough to say you're from "THE Ateneo" because like I said, only you give a fuck. All that means is that you have decent grades (maybe), have moneyed parents and/or know the right people. But that's most of us too, motherfuckers.
Except we don't have a bad attitude. Don't call yourself our archrivals. Archrivals are supposed to be on the same level. You are not. While we're dancing with the angels, you're about a hundred million levels below shit. "Men for others," my ass. You dickheads are the most self-absorbed group of myopic outcasts I've ever seen. Just ask any school. People may hate De La Salle because we kick ass. But they definitely hate you because you guys are just that... asses.
This is an Atenean's reply:
While Celine would take it as something to reflect upon... ako id like to answer it in a parallel manner. Wala ako magawa so... trying out my parallel essay eklat.. hehehe sorry for the offensive words.. kaasar lang talaga... newei... hea it goes!!!
A reply to : Atenean Superiority Complex : What's the source of all this pride?
Fellow Ateneans, we cant just keep quiet like this. Enough's enough, we've been targetted too much. This is the line drawn. Allow me to step down from the heavens and give time in answering this pathetic person's attempt to fuck reality.
Yes deary. Ateneans are proud to be Ateneans and thats hella fine. Thats quite wonderful. And as you said, there's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
And i Agree with you in saying that all the other schools are also proud to have studied there. Right? Thats natural! Thats fine.
But there's something wrong with the way WE project our pride? There goes your mistake Miss beautiful. We're not saying we are better but since you opened this up, might as well go with your stupid flow. When we do not win a trophy, we look at it and say. "At least we're from the Ateneo." and we did our best. We don't go fumbling about telling people "WE GOT CHEATED" or "TSAMBA LANG YAN" like some pathetic excuse of a university does. We take it as a challenge and so what. At least we're from the ateneo that we were taught not to FUSS over shitty topics like these. We look at you guys and say " SO what? WE DONT CARE WHAT YAH THINK."
Yes you might graduate somewhere and also probably get a diploma for having such a freakin mind. But God, go to an office and present your EQUAL diploma and we'll see what they say. Besides that didn't come from us, ASK AROUND. or maybe USE YOUR GOD DAMN COMMON SENSE, Where were you when God was giving away brains? Did you hide somewhere? Coz i dont see signs of that WONDERFUL gift. Got beautiful words, quite inspiring but nonetheless SHIT.
Im getting tired of answering your freakin assumptions. Our diploma is better? Stop implying. What exactly are we proud of? Coz we are in a good school. TOO BAD YOU DONT FEEL THE SAME. We are not the most athletic school, but we still made our name in different sports and we take care of our athletes. WE don't go around BRIBING rival athletes into our core. Thats way BULL! Academically speaking? HELLO?! EARTH TO THIS AUTHOR?! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! GOT LOST FOR 15 YRS INSIDE YOUR ASS?! There is practically no point in answering this academic issue. Maybe you just need to open your eyes and breathe the fresh air coz with the way you are presenting your guesses.. i can say you've been away from your rational mind for a long time, A VERY LONG TIME. And oh.. we dont smoke our grasses. Maybe you do, but we dont, we take care of them and i dont see much grass in your school either. STOP SHOVING IT INSIDE YOUR LUNGS I GUESS.
Why "THE" Ateneo? Coz we like it that way. Why? inggit kayo? God, you can use it too, we DONT OWN it if thats your point. so stop bitchin around. aqnd hello, "THE" before a proper noun? have you ever heard of "going to the PHILIPPINES?" going to "THE" United States? DUH! UR MAKING GOOD USE OF YOUR SIMPLISTIC BRAIN AGAIN. Its not our fault that you are not that well informed of your english. The next time you write a "SARCASTIC" essay, CONFIRM WITH YOUR TEACHER. Arent you ashamed that people read this and they'll see how TRYING you are? MAGTAGALOG KA NALANG!
Now ain't the ATENEO distinct? aint DLSU distinct? DUH! BRAINS AGAIN FREAK?! Turkey? oh cmon, does that look like a turkey? have you by any chance encountered ZOOLOGY in your very EXTENSIVE PARALLEL education?! Ask 10 people if that looks like a turkey and if you get 10 people? LUCKY YOU! YOU MUST BE IN TASADAY COUNTRY! School ALONG katipunan not ON katipunan, we dont have classes BESIDE main roads, (Like some GOOD schools. *ahem*) ESPECIALLY NOT ON them. As what i've said consult with your extremely good english professors first before you send something like this. Ateneo School GOD KNOWS WHERE? well.. *hint* *hint* of course God knows where and like EVERY OTHER PERSON IN MANILA THAT'S SOMEONE. Ever been to a place called ROCKWELL? or Just cant afford it. Ever heard of Makati? tsk tsk, pretending to be an elitist yet falters. How i wish you'd just shut up. Sorry that our school aint set up SOMEWHERE you'd be familiar of. Don't worry we'll propose to have one built in the outskirts of Bacnotan or somewhere. There you go again with your beautiful statements that make me fall in love with you. ABOVE THE REST?! are you talking geographically wise or just another one of your WITTY or lemme say SHITTY remarks?
This is not pure arrogance, but extremely pure STUPIDITY considering there is NO proof that we are what you call we are.
Yes we do believe that only in Ateneo is it "The" Ateneo, because we like our school, we refer to it as something distinct and we treat it with this certain formality. If we're the only ones who give a fuck, then why the hell would you spend time in making this SHITTY essay that practically complies with one essay we've read for ENGLISH. "HOW TO SAY NOTHING IN FIVE HUNDRED WORDS." Maybe we do have decent grades (do you?), maybe we might have moneyed parents (im sure you do), maybe we know the right people(that wouldnt be you). Thats most of you? THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO FREAKY WITH THIS. Uhm excuse me, motherfuckers? cmon. There's one thing they should teach you. VALUES.
You dont have a bad attitude, yes. YOU HAVE THE WORST KIND OF ATTITUDE POSSIBLE.
You call us your archrivals. Dancing with the angels? oh cmon, you'll never get that close. Lucifer was an angel. Um.. so maybe you might be right. Hundred Million Levels below shit? So a Hundred Million levels below you guys. Better there than anywhere near you inconsiderate, pridish excuses for university goers.
"Men for others." Yes! who's so self-absorbed in opening up something like this. ARE YOU BORED OR SOMETHING or you just really cant put your brain up for anything else rewarding. Now peeps, who's so pathetic and who's so self-absorbed. Whew, scary words huh, i dont even think you know what myopic means. People may hate ateneo coz u say we are asses. Might agree with you there. Maybe we are asses. But People hate De La Salle because you kick ass? I think i'd have to contest to that.. Kick ass? or Kiss ass? Just ask any school. :)
L