The Desperate Housewives Racial Slur

THE BIGOTRY OF THE AMERICANS
By Reymundo Salao

It has been a week since the controversial Racial Slur that American TV Show “Desperate Housewives” has made in one of its episodes when one of the characters played by Teri Hatcher uttered a line that demeans the reputation of Filipino Doctors. Up till now, that insult has not been satisfied. …And that “Apology” made by that American network, ABC? Bahhh! They think they could just make us forget with a cheap apology? This was not just a matter of error; this was a deliberate Slap in the Face! An insult that spat onto a country already injured by a chronic lack of self-esteem.

Clearly, this show seems to represent Modern America: A bitch that hides itself in a disguise of glamour, and is constantly delusional of the idea that they’re superior above any other race on Earth. It has been an impression of mine, and now, with this bitter insult, proven true; it gives the impression that indeed Americans fancy themselves to be above all races. Basing from their history of racism, specifically during the era of the Ku Klux Klan, the Desperate Housewives show makes me wonder that with American arrogance being underlined, America could have been the country where Nazism came from. After all, Hate could be in the form of a Joke. It has now become not so much of a wonder why many other nationalities hate America. Not so much of a wonder why some races are desperate to bomb anything that is American. Some nationalities have even gave America that nickname that has long been used by the many that hate it: America – The Great Satan.

And after Desperate Housewives, comes The Daily Show with John Stuart that has made a video-clip joke where we see OUR Former President Corazon Aquino’s picture, with the word “Slut” on it. Clearly how disturbing that such an irreverent show would take pride in insulting a very revered harmless timid former leader of ours. I have been a fan of the Daily Show before. But now that they did THIS, I am deeply appalled. These American shows seem to be forgetting their own limits of discipline. The Daily Show should BURN for this. Of course, these shows would be chicken enough to make jokes of Muslim leaders, or else they will be hunted down like the dogs that they are. Sometimes, I wish we were as protective enough of our leaders as the Muslims would. But you know what? Maybe we ought to be as rabidly protective of our national pride as they do with their religion.

Furthermore, the insult was not even based on some shred of fact. If there was a joke about Corruption in the Philippine government, if there was a joke about the antique-World War 2 Era facilities that the Philippine Air Force & Navy uses, then it would be not as upsetting, because in one way or another, there is some shred of truth to such. But demeaning the Filipino Medical Society and belittling it to defamatory level… where is the shred of truth in that? In fact, many westerners even GO TO THE PHILIPPINES just to have medical operations because it is practical to have medical operations and at the same time RELIABLE. You can scour all legitimate existing records, and legitimate websites and you will find the reputation of Philippine Medical Professionals that are well known all over the world. The insult that ABC Network and the show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES did was not even based on some manner of truth; not even based on a half-truth. Just a blind ignorant insult. No cheap apology can satisfy the damage that has been done.

They want to apologize? They have to try harder than just CHEAP APOLOGY. The ABC Network should maybe donate a hospital in the Philippines, or any medical facility. Anything that will really make them COMPENSATE for their ignorant humor. And THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEMAND IT.

With Desperate Housewives being a very influential show, that is seen by millions of its audiences, you can expect that it WILL AFFECT the employment of Filipino Doctors, Nurses, and other Medical Practitioners that seek to have a job in the U.S. Because of this show’s ignorant hateful remark, it is very very possible that your child WILL NOT BE WELCOMED by Employment Agencies in the US. If that happens, BLAME DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. BLAME THAT AMERICAN ABC TV NETWORK. BLAME AMERICAN ARROGANCE. They only give us some Cheap Apology, assuming that we would be stupid enough to just take it and everything will be “okay” with us. Well we should spit it back.

If I had my way, I'd have a mass demonstration condemning this act of insult. Burning of American flags in the plaza, also of posters and merchandise that represent this TV show. But then again, let's be realistic here, there are still many of our kababayans who are jaded and UN-PATRIOTIC enough to not even give the slightest care about this insult. There are many who will still watch this show. But then again, my advice to them would be simple: 1. NEVER buy Original or Official merchandise from/of this show (include ALL of ABC Shows anyway. I’m talking about DVDs, VCDs, shirts, mugs, whatever; 2. Buy ONLY Pirated/Bootleg dvds/vcds of this show. PIRACY is GOOD. You will save money by buying Pirated DVDs/VCDs of this show. The proceeds of which will go to impoverished Filipino families that are left with no recourse but to become Pirated Products Employees; Buy ONLY Pirated/Bootleg merchandise of this show. China makes excellent Bootleg shirts of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. This also includes mugs, etc. Our government may have cancelled the ZTE Deal with China. Do your part as a citizen and renew ties with China by buying Bootleg DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Merchandise! 4. Convince OTHERS to DO THE SAME

The ZTE Broadband Network Deal

BIG DEAL
by Reymundo Salao

By now, even the most oblivious and the most naïve should know that. If there is one thing we have found out about the recent National Broadband Network Deal, or also infamously known as the ZTE Controversy, is that it has reinforced the notion that there really are government officials/entities/subgroups who would just focus on projects that are really unnecessary for the government and the nation, its purpose is purely for kickback.

It was in the Senate Hearing investigating the NBN Deal that Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Mar Roxas have stressed out the points on how this NBN Deal really is unnecessary to the country, and is only a terrible waste of taxpayer’s money. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, with her usual overpowering retort, even went so far as to offend the Chinese community, which she later apologized for. And of course, how could we leave out the revelation that no less than the President’s husband is involved with this nasty deal. There have already been too many controversies and “unofficial”, unpublished stories of how notorious the First Gentleman really is. And it seems that this involvement with the NBN Deal is just one of them. The typical Juan De la Cruz would ask “Is he really the corrupt, greedy fat pig that some claim him to be?”

Truly, the NBN Deal is really unnecessary and irrelevant to the country. I would like to have this analogy; You live in a very poor family that can hardly afford basic necessities, not enough food is being provided, the electricity in your house is always cut off, you have several leaks in your ceiling, you have a sickly sister that needs regular medication, medication that cannot even be provide for regularly because medicines are not cheap, then you have a brother who is unruly and always gets into fights, your mother works as an employee for foreigners, she is always so nice to them, in return, the foreigners would sometimes give her extra tips, but they would never see your mother as something higher than a laborer, they would never give her the promotion that she wants. You’re sure that your mother can make it in starting her own little business, but she never chooses to do so, because she enjoys just being a foreigner’s servant. And here comes your father, who also works for foreigners, he has bought one of those flashy new camera-celfones that cost around P50,000. A celfone that really is unnecessary, since you and your family members already have celfones. Sure, the celfones you have are not as flashy and as high-tech than this new celfone your father bought, but still, your celfones can do the same thing; send text messages and call. He bought it from his Chinese boss; the payment would be his salary. That means he wouldn’t be able to pay for food on the family table, not until he fully pays the celfone.

This family is the Filipino people, our heads just seem to be content with being servants to foreigners, that’s why we rely too much on foreign investors rather than making visionary projects that seek to work FOR the Filipino, and is made BY THE FILIPINO. That new flashy celfone is the NBN Deal. Sure, it’s new and it’s high-tech, but eventually, in a matter of a few years, it will still be obsolete. It’s flashy, it’s more efficient, but eventually, it does the same thing as any cheap 500-peso celfone that the family already has.

With the advances in technology, there already exist many available tools (some are even free) that the government can already use in order to have an efficient government network. What would a foreign company do that Filipino experts cannot achieve? Does the government not have faith in the prowess of Filipino computer experts? A Filipino authored that computer virus known as the “I Love You” virus some years ago that caused the global internet community to tremble for a while. Recently, unbeknownst to the general public, there even has been another malware (a sort of virus too, this malware is known to spread via USB Flash Disks)) that was authored by somebody from Iloilo, his little infamy is noted in various online net forums that discuss computer virus control. The Filipino online community is one of the most active in the world. And for sure, our computer experts come in vast numbers. We have THAT already; we don’t need to run to the Chinese. Not unless the reason for running to the Chinese is to get some kickback from the deal.

To be noted also, in having deals with foreign companies, our government usually forgets (or do they choose to forget?) that they never do it for a purely charitable purpose. Ultimately, they always have an agenda that would benefit THEM MORE THAN US. We’re dealing with the Chinese here, (probably) the most shrewd, most clever businessmen in the world; it’s not exactly “missionary work” what they do. Oh, and another thing; a point that one of the senators (I think it was Sen. Gordon) has expressed in the Senate hearing; In so doing with this NBN Deal with China, we would be letting China have access to our government files. China is one of the world superpowers; God only knows what they can do with that kind of access. We already have the other superpower, America, bullying us, and treating us like dogs of servitude… we don’t need another one.

FEBRUARY TRAGEDY

By Reymundo Salao

Three days earlier, at the start of the month, the government imposed the R-VAT. This means, another increase in the tax burden of the Filipino people. While many government heads assure that the tax addition is very minimal, this still is undeniably very very heavy for the poverty-stricken masses of this country. Many are still aching the pain of the E-VAT, now R-VAT has made the worst, horrific. With the non-transparency of how the government would use these additional funds, the agricultural funds exposé, the missing Marcos money, and the unresolved Garcillano scandal, among many other unresolved government anomalies, it is a virtual addition of insult to injury; vinegar on open wounds. If the crippling effect of the tax burden can even be felt by the middle class, how worse can it be for the ones down the poverty line.

It is a grim fact that some may resort to crime just to free themselves and their families from utter misery. These people will do anything for survival. Desperation is an understatement for what the poor citizens of this country is experiencing. But still, there are many who have the decency enough not to cross that line of morality just to have that redemption. Many still just work hard, and depend on a decent way of life to live on and survive. But as one may prove, the fruits of hard labor sometimes feel insufficient for one to attain real redemption. Inevitably, many will dream of that easy road to redemption, as they wish to win the lotto, the sweepstakes, and the noontime TV game shows that give out millions of pesos.

One such show is ABS-CBN’s “WOWOWEE” which is a game show where many of our masses would go to, with humble wishes to win, maybe even for some mere consolation prize. In a country where poverty is something shared by 90% of the citizens, Wowowee is a show that symbolizes as something that people would look up to, where their simple wishes can come true. Wishes that are nothing more than a little redemption from the miseries of poverty.

After the R-VAT has grown to terrorize the pockets of the Filipino people, many naturally look up to Wowowee to save them from the tsunami of this new tax burden. On the scheduled big Saturday First anniversary of the show, a great number of people have brought themselves by the overwhelmingly large numbers, all headed to the ULTRA complex where the show would be held. But tragedy struck as a stampede killed around 79 victims and left many more wounded and hospitalized.

Is it the fault of the security and gate personnel? Is it the fault of a couple of people who allegedly started a panic by shouting a false bomb threat? Nobody knows for sure. But what I do know is that this is the result of desperation. Desperation not of people who wish to be rich like kings, not of people who desire to own and drive fancy cars, not of people who wish to be business tycoons who own various businesses, not of people who wish to be influential like the gods of their provinces. In these times of increasing prices of taxes, of commodities, of education, and of medicine, these people simply wish redemption from their poverty miseries. These people are victims murdered by desperation and poverty. There is nobody to blame but poverty itself.

MY THOUGHTS ON DINAGYANG ‘06

By Reymundo Salao

Sure, this year’s DINAGYANG was a success, says everybody. But I have very mixed reactions with this year’s festivities. I was really proud that, as a friend who works in Manila informed me, ad campaigns for Iloilo’s Dinagyang posted in Metro Manila have been very visible and seemed to have attracted the attention of the many that weren’t even familiar with the Dinagyang festival in the first place. That kind of exposure does open the floodgates for tourists and festival-hunters. And indeed, we were more than enthused to welcome them with red carpets. The related programs like the Miss Dinagyang and the various exhibits were well-planned. There were more than enough programs to welcome our mass of guests. The Opening Salvos and the Dinagyang Bulilit Competitions were unique and does add to the color of the festival. However, I wish that next year, during the Friday Fluvial parade, the City Government should declare a non-working holiday to government office workers in the vicinity of the city proper, even for just half-day, since it is kind of pointless to be in your office when the main city transportation routes are closed anyway.

My impulsive verdict on this year’s Dinagyang celebration is that it is indeed a success. But looking back at the little things that I noticed there are still many things that should be improved. Primarily, there are two major issues that I think needs some improvement.

Last Sunday, I was roaming around the Atrium-Casa Plaza-Prov. Capitol area, in my usual askalish mood, hanging out under the sun, and waiting for the tribes to pass by after their performances in the judging areas. As I finished my Melon Shake & Waffle dog, I, being a pseudo-non-purist-environmentalist, noticed that I could not EVER find a decent trash can area to throw my litter. Even the usual basura site near the LBC area was gone. What in freaking Treebeard’s nosehair is going on here? Just because it’s festival season in the streets and everybody is expected to be a litterbug, doesn’t mean that we have to tolerate and cultivate that same bad attitude by not providing enough trash cans in the streets! I’d had to hold on to my empty Shake cup & pretend that it still has some shake on it before I found a makeshift trash area. I wish that next year, they’d provide numerous trashcans for the people to throw their little litters on.

The second issue that needs to be improved or maybe altered is the deprivation of the street-merry-making sound systems. I believe it is better to REGULATE the sound systems instead of just imposing a ban on it. I agree with the opinions of many who have complained about the pointless multiplicity of ultra-loud sound systems that even though how close to each other some of them are, play different or varies music. Why not just limit the number of sound systems instead of just totally banning it. One sound system area per radio station (or any organization).

Why totally deprive the people of their street merry-making opportunities? Because of the crime rate? Well, increase police visibility and presence. This banning of the sound systems seems a bit TOO BOURGEOISIE. People who go to the Merry-making festival are normal people too. They just want to dance, jump around, rejoice, and have some fun. What? Only those who can afford to go to sosyal places like the bars and clubs where concerts and gigs are held, the only ones who have the right to have fun in Dinagyang? Not the masses? Killjoy is an understatement: to me, it seems BOURGEOISIE. Does that term sound offensive? Oh, well, sorry…I hope next year they restore the merry-making in the streets. And if it does, I hope it still gets the Police vigilance it requires. The spirit of DINAGYANG is not just for tourists, it is for us ALL.

THE NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION

By Reymundo Salao

I have usually had no complaints about products made in China. Instead of paying P 800 for a Jerry Bruckheimer movie, I pay P 100 for the same copy made in China. Instead of spending P 2,000 on Diesel sneakers, I can get sneakers made in China that look 97% similar to Diesel sneakers. Instead of buying a popular-brand DVD player (like Samsung or JVC), which usually only have one-region compatibility, I can buy a P 2,000 DVD player from China which, not only is a multi-region player, but also is an mp3 player. The capitalists that have spearheaded Globalization are now scratching their heads with what to do with China’s “abilities”.

But where do I personally draw the line when it comes to buying these products from China? It is when it comes in competition with our local products. Specifically, considering the season, there are the firecrackers and pyrotechnic products which I believe have now become a threat to our own firecracker and pyrotechnic industry. More and more, pyrotechnic products of China are invading our stalls and our customers. People are buying Chinese firecrackers instead of those made by our brothers and sisters in Arevalo. The amounts of these products are so overwhelming that it has now come to a point that it is not competition anymore; it’s an invasion.

Well, I hope that when we’re out there shopping for firecrackers, we can remind ourselves to patronize our very own Pinoy firecrackers and fireworks. Don’t make your New Year’s celebration so un-Pinoy. Start the New Year with some cheers and good hope for the entire nation.

There’s no bastard more hideous, more foolish, more ignorant, more reckless than the ones who will indulge in indiscriminate firing of their firearms this New Year’s celebration. Siya ang gago sang mga gago. Indiscriminate Firing can victimize ANYBODY. Even the elderly and the children (Indiscriminate gani). Those fools indulge in this…for what?!!! For a mere animalistic exhibition of utter ignorance? Please, to those who have firearms, please do not indulge in such actions. You do not want karma to punish you with your own slug hitting a loved one. And to those who would witness the commission of such crime, please do not be afraid to report the matter to authorities. We must help ourselves in completely avoiding such a crime to be committed on this joyous season. In stopping this crime, we are not only saving the lives of others, but maybe the lives of our own loved ones as well!

Well, well. We have come to the last day of 2005. My year was not so perfect but at least I’m thankful that it was not hell. To those who had hell, well, I hope that the next year would bring you some taste of heaven. My Askal Projection column have been a bit slow this season coz I still have my focus set on the Metro Manila Film Festival that seems to perpetually need improvement. Anyway, I hope to bring you more stuff to ponder on for the upcoming year. May all of us truly have a HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

X

Tired of making New Year’s Resolutions? Well, why not make up suggested resolutions for other people?
MY NEW YEAR’S WISH FOR EVERYBODY ELSE

For the City Government: - To truly implement a SERIOUS and STRICT No Smoking Policy in Public Places, specifically Jeepneys, Buses, Tricycles and Taxi cabs.

- To remove (or at least, minimize) the unsightly “Beautification Project” mini-placards in the gardens by the street. We know it’s beautiful already; we don’t need several placards to know that.

- To implement a SERIOUS ANTI-LITTERING Campaign as well! The one of the biggest problem of this city is its (almost-annual) flooding. The cause of bad drainage system is due to the clogging of garbage.

For all who plan to take up the NURSING course: THINK TWICE! Not every nursing student story is an American Dream come true. It is a difficult course that requires a lot of time and sacrifice. It’s not a walk in the park. And yes, sometimes, there are people who fail the Board Exams.

For all who are about to leave the country for a job someplace else: Congratulations! You will probably earn a lot more now, that is, if you are hardworking and resourceful. If you’re such a lazy spoiled little prince/princess in this country, then welcome yourself to hell. In addition, do Not forget that YOU ARE PINOY. Do not come back to this country claiming that you have forgotten how to speak in your native tongue Do not try to sound like you have an “Americanized” accent either. Dusagago ka.

For almost ALL (except for maybe two) Coffee Shops: Please play some good music! I did not go to a Café just to be immersed on the same Chihuahua music of Ogie Alcasid and Air Supply. If I wanted to do so, I would’ve just stayed home!

For a certain movie theater: PLEASE turn off your lights when the trailer is being shown. It distracts our viewing the trailers, which is, in itself, also part of the movie watching experience.
For each and every Filipino: Have a little hope in ourselves. The reason why the state of things in this country is that our sense of patriotism has long been damaged by a long-standing colonial mentality and westernization. Corruption exists because we are not patriotic enough to stop it. There is not much progress because we have no urge to give progress to the glory of the Filipino. Things may be far from perfect; but we can rise up from it.

KILLING ITS OWN CITIZENS

By Reymundo Salao

As long as the Filipino thinks of itself as inferior, the Filipino would never rise from its own misery. Problem is, even the government seeks to remain as the underdog servant of foreigners.

A number of stores, stalls, and residences in Metro Manila were demolished the other day in what the Inquirer newspaper daily describes as a “VIOLENT demolition of stalls that has left many vendors jobless and homeless.” It is because this area was part of what is said to be a foreign investor route. This isn’t much different with that time when the administration called for the demolition of “unsightly” squatters area residences in preparation for US President George (a.k.a. 21st Century Anti-Christ) W. Bush’s Philippine visit some years ago; areas where the American Government motorcade convoy was going to pass by. You can’t just backstab your own countryman just to please a foreigner. One of the residents were even crying and demanding for justice since she has the proper papers, business permits, and DTI permits to safeguard her business, but to no avail, her property was demolished nevertheless. A group of vendors are claiming rights over the property. Nevertheless, their cries fell on deaf ears as the demolition continued and many were left injured, including vendors, sympathizers, policemen and wreckers.

The problem with this government is that it renders itself too helpless and too dependent on foreign investors. Sure there’s money in foreign investment and tourism, but the government should not make it the stronger option when it goes along the way with Filipino interests. The Filipino must be nice and hospitable to foreigners but a Filipino must not deprive, prostitute and destroy his/her own fellow Filipino just to please the foreigners

The government seems to maintain as a general perception the notion of foreign investment being the key to solving the poverty of the nation. Although it may have some truth to it, it is not an absolute truth. The government hasn’t (or may refuse to not have) thought of it yet; it just lazily submits to this notion. Tinamad na ina ya! I’m starting to believe that there may be bigger “under-the-table” kickbacks and unannounced profit from such deals with foreign investments.

Our country is rich in many aspects. We obviously have superior natural resources from forests that can supply an endless amount of lumber, fruits, vegetables, beans, and herbs from our farms; we have the plants and herbs that can be used to supply ourselves with endless amounts of medicine. Who knows? We may already have the cure for cancer and AIDS in our own backyard, and we just don’t know it… maybe foreign companies already have secret laboratories and dummy corporations here that operate utilizing our natural resources for the profit of foreign companies? Many Filipinos die for lack of medicines, and the foreign company is selling it to us with a more than a hundred percent profit from it.

There once was a farmer who owned vast lands and rich rice fields. He had a son who, once reached manhood, was too lazy of learning to work hard for the land that his own family owns. The father told his son that he should now have the responsibility of a working adult and must work for his own money, utilizing their own land and a little effort. But the son refused to work in the farm and went to the city in order to work as a clerk under a foreign company. His wage is cheap and he is constantly at the mercy of his ruthless and moody boss. If he remained back in the farm as a hardworking farmer, he would’ve lived in much of his own wealth; he also would have the opportunity to share his own fruits with his own neighbors.

The Filipino government’s policy of being too dependent on foreign investment is like the stubborn and lazy son.

I’m wondering, because (the formerly war-torn) Vietnam is now very progressive (in a mere span of a little more than 2 decades), in the sense that it is already overtaking the Philippines; would Vietnam be in its healthy state of progress if America won that war in what they (hypocritically) claim to be “defending the interests of the Vietnamese”, or is Vietnam in its healthy state of progress because it finally ended its war and DEFEATED ITS OWN FOREIGN INFILTRATORS & FOREIGN RAPISTS?

PINOY BIG BROTHER: AN INSULT TO FILIPINO CULTURE

By Reymundo Salao
Askal Projection

As endlessly hummed by everybody, specifically my officemates, “Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo… Ipakita sa Mundo…” It’s a nice song. The lyrics are pro-Pinoy. A good song SUPPOSEDLY. But one cannot deny that it is a song directly associated with that reality TV show “Pinoy Big Brother”. The first and foremost fact that it is not an original Filipino show and it is just from a franchised TV show, originally a foreign show (European), is an irony. “Ipakita sa Mundo…” …that Pinoys CANNOT come up with original ideas for shows, so much so that we have to BUY the franchise from a foreign company?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not just recklessly bashing the show without ever being familiar with it-I HAVE been watching it—and have indeed found it utterly distasteful enough to be labeled by its theme song as something that is “Pinoy”.

With lyrics like “Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo, Ipakita sa Mundo” (I’m Pinoy, We’re Pinoys, let’s show it to the world) You would think that this is a show that should depict and show real Filipino values and attitude. You would think that the song, being attached to the show, is a sincere attempt to boost or even just plainly depict the Filipino attitude, even improve it. But no. It seems that has only been a good marketing scheme. Every night, it is undeniable that thousands are hooked on this TV show where the “residents” (the yuppies who are in the show) are put into a television “aquarium” where they are expected to be quirky, funny, reckless, and overly pretentious (Heck, if you know that there’s a camera in each and every room on this house, the tendency of your typical hypocritical showbiz-ambitious person is to script out everything he/she has to say and make sure that it is something that will make him/her look good regardless if it were an honest statement or not). These residents were selected from thousands of non-showbiz applicants. The objective of this reality game show is for them so survive 100 days inside this House, and in the duration of that time, they may be voted off either by SMS-txt votes, by their own co-residents, or by the Big Brother himself who acts as the unseen gamemaster of the show. While in their residency in the “Big Brother House”, they are tasked to do certain silly things, the satisfactory execution of such would garner them points. This, along with whatever complicated co-residency relationship they would have with each other, stands as obstacles in their survival in residency.

So far, what I’ve witnessed on this show are a whole lot of back-stabbing, pretentiousness, arrogance, and immorality. Funny thing is, the network overhypes it so much that even when it gets moved to a later-than-primetime timeslot, it still manages to attract youngsters with feeble minds, ready to be molded by an ugly modern TV-influenced culture that will probably lead them to become such jerks in society.

It’s rather interesting that a show that prides itself with taking some married individuals and seemingly intently expect them to get into some kind of affair with other co-residents so that their ratings could soar. Aren’t marital infidelity and the pride in indulging on it a trait that we learned from the Americans? And so they sing “Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo…” Arrogance and backstabbing… those are also traits that city folk get from their being WESTERNIZED. Getting urbanized yuppies as the representatives of this show…those people are NOT very PINOY. Those people are already adulterated by westernized pop culture. Whatever they do, may it be good or bad, are not Pinoy!

In a time when we most need to rebuild our patriotic spirit in order to struggle for a better future, we find that one of the most influential outputs of media is doing the opposite.

Yes. Fine. It’s a funny reality TV show. It can be silly, pointless, and stupid as it can be. Each and everyone has the democratic right to indulge in shallow forms of entertainment anyway. Just don’t call it Pinoy. Because that affects me, it affects you, it affects your grandparents, and it even affects those people in remote areas who never watch the show. This show is degrading what truly is Pinoy. I don’t know about you, but this Big Brother show, I gladly spit on it with contempt and disgust.