Looking for Pinoy in OPM

Filipinos are the most un-Asian of all Asian countries (see the irony?). Having been ruled and governed by the Spaniards, Japanese, and Americans that totals to hundreds of years, it’s no wonder that we’ve lost the “oriental” side in us. And because of this, we have more Western traits in us than other Asian countries. More than the language, the culture, the architecture, and the food, our music has also been changed in ways far deeper than we imagined.

Filipino music is a unique mix of good, old school traditions and the unbelievably influential musical aspiration of the west. From the lyrics to the melodies, the music video treatment to the cover art, and even the way a local artist dresses up, are highly similar to many Hollywood recording artists. Now you never have to wonder where Filipinos got the concept of dancing with bare midriffs, singing to a glittered microphone, and canoodling under the rain. Then again, you can sue MTV for that because if it weren’t for the Pussycat Dolls parading their glorious talents, we would never have the Mocha Girls. If it weren’t for Josh Groban, who would have imagined that a lanky man with a choir-like voice named Christian Bautista would be a household name?

Going back, this situation goes both ways—good; because this somehow suggests that Filipinos can meet international standards. Yet this is bad too, in a way that several Pinoy artists are allowing their music to follow after Hollywood trends. Haven’t you wondered why more and more Filipino artists are striving to gain international fame and recognition? It’s a mystery to me, why they want to conquer the international stage when the musical stage here in the Philippines is readily available—metaphorically speaking, that is.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be recognized for the unique Filipino sound they are bringing to the table instead of being known as the Filipino sound that sounds like an “American or British band”? Just a thought.

But then again, it’s not only the artists who are to blame in the influx of singing blondes and brunettes. It’s the Filipino listeners themselves who insist on only listening to Britney Spears or The All-American Rejects that drove Pinoy musicians to look to the west for inspiration. Admit it, you don’t listen to local artists that much in fear of being called “jologs”, “baduy”, “corny”, and “kadiri”.

For some weird reason, Filipinos who listen to OPM have been branded as tasteless individuals. Why? Because we did it to ourselves.

The Box That Is Philippine TV

Philippine TV is like a box of chocolates—only it’s not hazelnut truffles.

I am no couch potato. In fact, during the rare occasions that I would find myself sitting idly in front of the television with my mind up in the air, you won’t see me watching Filipino drama shows or movies. Growing up, we were not allowed to watch too much Pinoy sitcoms. Our parents spoiled us in English movies—Harriet the Spy, Cinderella, The Mighty Ducks, Hercules, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, and more. I used to hate my parents for that but then I learned that it was for the better. Not that I’m here to poke fun at all the things TV networks come up just to increase their ratings because some are actually worthwhile, but then, why do they always have to copy whatever is a hit in the United States?

Philippine TV has gone to the extremes—literally. TV networks heighten the Peeping Toms within us with their numerous reality program offerings that “let us in on the real drama” of life. We are bombarded with moving pictures of beautiful women cracking up jokes that aren’t even supposed to be funny. The issue is the same when it comes to the big screen. Concepts are second-rate replicas of what have already been done abroad. One could argue that everything that comes out these days are mere recycled ideas, mere runner-ups to the best. It’s like restoring a beat-up old car—you take away the bad parts, throw in the latest car seating, the topnotch paint job in the metro and voila, you have a well-conditioned car. Well, at least that’s what you think.

What most Filipinos in this industry don’t understand is that we are well-capable of coming up with concepts that are even better than what they come up with Hollywood. Sure, we don’t have the CGI capabilities that could rival Star Wars and our conservatism as Filipinos keeps us from venturing into sex-driven yet politically and socially true films. But we’ve got a number of realities existing within the society that could birth glorious movies or television documentaries. You can say that networks do take the time to produce relevant programs that actually do help in terms of informing the masses of the ills of society. And I agree. But they’re aired late at night—when no one’s awake but the folks who have just gotten home from a drinking spree.

The television and movie industry is all about pushing creativity to its limit until it’s uncontrollable, until the product of that creativity is too big, too large to undermine. But clearly, that is wishful thinking. Like the car mentioned before, changing what is visible to the eye alone won’t undo the fact that it was manufactured by General Motors or Honda.

We do have adventurous media moguls, filmmakers, writers, and directors willing to break open the box of conformity, but they’re restricted by bodies that preserve the “morals” of this country. How do you nurture creativity when there are individuals shooting it as soon as it takes off? This argument could go on for decades: conformity and innovation, that is.

Dirty Politics

Noynoy Aquino. How do I even begin to explain the oh-so-obvious? He is not the Philippines’ salvation. Come on, if you have a brain that actually functions, you would know better than to elect someone who has lived behind the glory of his parents. What has he done as a senator? Zilch. How can  you expect Noynoy to head the government when he hasn’t even proven himself as a senator? If he wins, I can almost imagine how the next six years of my life as a Filipino will be all about words and promises–just that.

Dick Gordon. A seasoned public servant, Gordon proves that he is a man of action. He is outspoken though often loud. He speaks his mind and it doesn’t matter if it needs to be bleeped on national television. This man has the courage and guts to implement the law. He’s a generous man–with an iron fist. With him, I see a boom in  the tourism industry, a more disciplined populace, a cleaner metropolis, and real tangible progress.

Manny Villar. They say money talks in politics. And Villar is probably the epitome of that phrase. He’s every inch a businessman–a successful one at that. How he was able to attain that success, on the other hand, is something that puzzles and amazes me at the same time. If he ever wins, there’s a possibility of progress for the country. I mean, businessmen are always about ensuring the success of their brand, or in this case, the success of their/our country. Villar could easily win–if only his character is as solid as his business corporations.

Gilbert Teodoro. Intelligence immortalized. Gibo has  always been my choice for president. Just look at how he carries himself amid all the hullabaloo within their party. Look at how focused he is with his campaign while the other candidates or too busy slinging mud and boulders. He’s a fortress. I read somewhere that when they think of Gibo, they remember NDCC’s failure when Ondoy and Pepeng hit us. I say, screw that! Everybody fails at least once or twice in our lives. He’s the youngest candidate but he’s the one who exudes political maturity.

As for the other candidates, I might write about them some other time.

Murder and Words

We’re number one, the best, the prime, the cream of the crop.

Well, that is, at being the most dangerous country for journalists. And that’s something that will definitely ruin anybody’s perfectly sunny and optimistic day, not to mention distract you from enjoying the daily crossword in your favorite newspaper.

It’s a wonder how a tiny country like ours could cause so much bedlam that unwillingly calls the attention of the rest of the world. It’s a wonder how we are dubbed as the happiest people in the world and yet be shrouded by so much gloom and bring death to innocent civilians who just happened to have the big and bold letters that spell M-E-D-I-A printed on their company IDs. It’s a wonder too how media killings seemed to be getting more brutal and obvious through the years. And isn’t it a wonder how all these are happening at Arroyo’s reign? You can start clicking your fingers on your chin right about now. No, don’t.

Let’s not point fingers at someone just because everyone else says it is her fault, just because you know too little of what’s happening and just want to sound like you actually know how to read a newspaper.

More than correcting the administration, what we need is an extreme moral uprising, a complete moral makeover that will clean out the greed clinging in people’s gut. And I’m not just talking about the killers or whatnot. Even the officials who should be at the forefront of ensuring that no moral laws or whatsoever is broken or crossed by media killers are just as plagued by apathy and indifference. They too, should bathe in law and order.

Or could it be procrastination that’s helping media killers run freely? You can’t put death on hold; neither righteous action. While it should be noted that Arroyo did show effort in answering the call to put a stop to these hapless killings through the $92,000 Press Freedom Fund, I believe we have all the right to say that it’s not enough.

Obviously, what is happening in our country is a moral issue—it’s a person’s insatiable need for power with absolutely no thoughts as to the rightness or wrongness of their actions. It’s something that exists not just in our shore. In fact, all countries are plagued with this too. The only thing that sets us apart from them is that people here have tied their morals onto a kite and let it fly in the wind off to somewhere, nowhere, or wherever.

If you think about it, the only reason why journalists are killed is because they did their job—and did it so fucking (excuse me for the inappropriateness of the word) good it rocked the wits out of whoever their story is for. Thinking randomly, I would probably say that yes, I’ll die for one great story—just as long as I bring one fat or short corrupt official down, too. On a more serious note, this does prove that our society has gone to the dumps. Journalists stand up for the truth and work 24/7 yet they get a miniscule paycheck for their efforts or in some cases, death is the hefty price they pay.

Being a journalist is just like any other day job, only they bear heavier responsibilities that ordinary office people would bang their heads against the wall for.

A journalist or two being killed is an abomination. Journalists are every country’s little Switzerland (ideally speaking)  and they, who uphold absolute fairness and transparency in every facet of society deserves to be treated more humanely than be raped, shot to death, tortured, and buried without any speck of dignity or hint of conscience.

To kill a person is an act of absolute evil. To kill a neutral, unknowing journalist is absolute evil to the nth power. It’s beyond evil. And those who have laid a finger on journalists deserve to be put where they belong—beyond the threshold of hell.