I am currently reading Bob Ong’s second book, “Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino?” and it fits to the topic I am going to blog today. The book is giving me a broader view but more complicated decisions about my own stand as being a true blood Pinoy. But let me think… let us think… right now, what are the popular images being created to represent national identity? (A question from my professor in Philippine Literature.) I am going to list some contemporary events or trends of image building among Filipinos.
FIRST: The showbiz news last night in GMA 24 Hours is about Justin Bieber got amused by a robot. I think the equivalent of this news is “the dog pooped on the grass”. I just mean, that news about Bieber was really ridiculous. It was a what-the-hell-are-you-doing-in-news type of news! It is just really nonsense! Another news similar to this is “Pacquiao, may ‘malaking’ regalo sa kaarawan ng misis na si Jinkee”, posted in GMA News Online. I don’t really get the point of the networks covering news about the gifts that are received and given within the Pacquiao family. Really, please tell me the importance or the benefits that citizens of the Philippines may get in this kind of news. May God bless you if you see the light of hope behind this news. I just hope that the networks would lessen the meaningless showbiz news they roll on air.
What kind of national identity am I pulling from this one? For the news about Jinkee Pacquiao, all I can see is
that broadcast networks are informing us irrelevant news just to earn money without thinking the importance of it. For the news about Justin Bieber, it probably says how we adore international celebrities. This draws to the point that we support the international artists and buy them more than our local artists. We adore them more. This is eating our national identity as a Filipino. I think this is the top one reason why Philippines don’t get ahead of the other countries.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! There are people who are proud and would like to show off the world that they are Filipino. There is an emerging brand named Team Manila that creates and produces shirts, bags, pins, stickers, and more for men, women, and the kids. As written on their price tags, “The products draw inspiration from and represent the urban lifestyle culture-from graphic interpretations of national icons to the everyday life on the street. The products intend to remind us of the unique qualities of the everyday.” I am actually a fan of this brand especially because of their perspective and I love their designs and I am dreaming of someday I may be given the chance to work here. I also think that they have the capability to build and re-build a Filipino’s broken vow for his or her own homeland. I think that wearing this kind of clothes could advertise one’s nationalism or pride of being a Filipino.
This is based from my own perceptions and standpoints to the things that are happening in my country.
"Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas." --Ang nasirang panata natin bilang makabayan ng Pilipinas.
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