Ang Kwento ni Frida

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I apologize to the non-Tagalog speakers who have been re-directed to this post. There are many Tagalog words used here because of the nature of the subject. Of course, you can use online translators. However, I do not recommend them because, as you may already know, some thoughts are lost in translation. -twestj
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Sa Funfare column niya sa The Philippine Star, sinabi ni Mr. Ricky Lo ang mga sumusunod na patungkol kay Charice.

          …a girl who was born and raised in the Philippines but who, after 
          she made a name on a foreign land, brazenly forgot her origins, 
          changed not only her looks (hair and all) but also her accent (phony!)
          …a girl who has virtually renounced her “Filipino-ness” and obviously 
          assumed a glaringly fake American identity –Ricky Lo

May mga taong nakabasa at naimpluwensyahan ng mga sinabi ni Mr. Lo. Isa na rito ang kaibigan ni Frida na si Luzviminda. Hahayaan kong si Frida mismo ang magkwento sa atin.

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Ako si Frida. Gusto kong ibahagi ang isang kwentong nangyari kahapon lamang. Kasama sa kwentong ito ang kaibigan kong si Luzviminda, Mindy for short.

Habang nagpi-prepare ako for work, nag-ring ang phone ko. Sino kaya ito at napakaagang tumawag? Pagtingin ko sa phone…si Mindy…hmm bakit kaya?

Frida: Hi, friend! Musta?

:::::::::::::::::: dead air ::::::::::::::::

Frida: Hello?......Oh me, oh my! Bakit ka umiiyak?

Mindy: Pwede ba tayong magkita after your work?

Frida: Sure. Anong nangyari? Bakit ka umiiyak?

Mindy: I’ll tell you later.

Frida: Sige. Nasa inyo ka na ba?

Mindy: Yeah, just arrived home. See you at five?

Frida: Ok. Same restaurant?

Mindy: Yeah. Sige. Sleep na muna ako.

Frida. Ok. Kita tayo mamaya.

Hanggang sa work, nagtataka ako. Ano kayang nangyari? Kelangan kong bilisan ang trabaho para maagang makatapos. Walang over-overtime ngayon.

Sa isang restaurant sa mall kami nagkita ni Mindy. Habang kumakain kami, tahimik lang sya. Parang hirap pa syang ikwento agad kung ano’ng nangyari. Nang patapos na kaming kumain, tinanong ko na sya.

Frida: Okay. Ano ba talagang nangyari?

Mindy: (nangingilid ang luha) I might lose my job…

Frida: Ha? Bakit?

Mindy: Because…My supervisor…Kasi...hu-hu-hu…I might lose my job...

Frida: Wait…Paki eksplika mo nga ng ayos. Ang tagal mo na sa call center 
          na yan ah!

Mindy: Yeah. Almost 4 years.

Frida: Hmmm… wag mong sabihing gumawa ka ng bawal...nang-away ka ng 

          customer, 'no?

Mindy: (masama ang tingin nya sa akin) I don’t do that!

Frida: Alam ko naman e. Sorry. Bakit nga kasi? Why?

Mindy: My evaluation…I got low marks.

Frida: Low marks? (very careful ako sa pag-pronounce ng "low" kasi 
          ang turo sa akin ni Mindy, dapat long o yun)

Mindy: (nodding)

Frida: Pano nangyari yun?

Mindy: Kasi I didn’t want them to tell me na…

Frida: Sinong them?

Mindy: (malalim na buntung-hininga) It’s about the Filipino-ness….

Frida: Ha??? Wait lang. Anong Filipino-ness ang pinagsasasabi mo dyan? 
          Paki explain.

Mindy: Nagkatuwaan kasi sa production floor. Someone challenged us 
           to act like real Pinoys. Syempre, pakikisama… so, I joined them.

Frida: Ha?! Anyway, so...ano’ng ginawa mo?

Mindy: I talked to the customers with the Pinoy accent...yung hard accent.
           Tapos, after shift, kinausap ako ng supervisor ko because of complaints.

Frida: Sino’ng nag-complain?

Mindy: The customers…

Frida: Ano’ng complaints?

Mindy: They couldn’t understand me daw…hu-hu-hu…

Frida: Ah. Ok. Tapos?

Mindy: My supervisor gave me low marks on communication skills…

           and a written warning…hu-hu-hu…

Frida: May dati ka na bang warning?

Mindy: Wala. Pero alam mo naman ang competition sa work ko.

Frida: Oo nga 'no? Don’t cry na... Buti pa, punta tayo sa salon. Di ba matagal na 

          nating balak magpa-color ng hair? Treat ko.

So, pumunta kami sa salon. Medyo mapula pa ang mata ni Mindy kaya ako na 
ang kumausap sa receptionist.

Frida: Hi, Miss…

Miss: Hello, ma’am. Magpapagupit kayo?

Frida: Hinde. Magpapakulay kami ng hair.

Miss: Ano’ng kulay? Pili kayo dito o…

Frida: Ako ito. (tinuro ko yung kulay) Mindy, ikaw, alin?

Mindy: Ako ito…tapos gusto ko may streaks na ganito. (tinuro nya ang mga kulay)

Miss: Ah, ma’am...may dala ba kayong birth certificate?

Frida: Ha?!

Miss: Birth certificate.

Frida: Ano naman ang kinalaman ng birth certificate sa pagpapakulay ng buhok?

Miss: Ma'am, yan ang patakaran e.

Tinapik ako ni Mindy sa balikat. Tinuro nya sa akin ang poster sa wall ng salon.

Frida: Ano?! Pag taga-Pinas hindi pwede? E yun ang gusto kong kulay!

Miss: Sorry ma’am…sumusunod lang kami sa patakaran. Pero kung may 

         maipapakita kayong…

Frida: Teka...sandali lang…(kinuha ko ang wallet ko sa bag) O heto…

          international driver’s license.

Miss: (tinitingnan nyang mabuti ang mga nakasulat doon) E ma’am…yung 

         Country of Birth...nakalagay--Philippines. Sorry, hindi talaga pwede e.

         Kung gusto nyo, ibang kulay na lang.

Frida: Miss… (pinipigilan kong lumakas ang boses ko) Saan ba nanggaling

         yang patakaran na yan? Porke ba pinanganak ako sa Pinas...

Tinapik na naman ako ni Mindy.

Mindy: (pabulong) Tama na, Frida.

Frida: Sige, Miss. Thank you na lang.

Inis kaming lumabas ng salon. Tuloy ang usapan namin habang naggagala sa mall.

Frida: Sino ba’ng gumawa ng patakaran na yun? Napaka…ridiculous…low level…

          irritating…katawa…ewan! Di ko ma-describe!

Mindy: Forget it! C’mon! Let’s just go window-shopping.

Frida: Kanina ka pang Ingles ng Ingles dyan. Ano ka ba? Wala ka sa work ‘no?

Mindy: Ay sorry naman. Force of habit.

Frida: Force of habit ka dyan.

Mindy: Di ka naniniwala?

Frida. Just kidding. Pero ha…helpful talaga yung mga tips mo sa mga 

          vowel-vowel sounds na yan. Like, dapat long o sa word na “low” 

          kasi dapat iwasan yung nakaka-confuse sa mga tao. 
          Minsan, may mga lapses pa rin ako.

Mindy: Ako rin naman may mga lapses ah. Sino ba'ng perfect?

Frida: Ikwento mo nga ulit yung pinuna sa ‘yo dati.

Mindy: Alin? Yung "th"?

Frida: Hinde…yung vowel sound ng Tagalog word.

Mindy: Ahh…Minsan, pinansin ako ng kapatid ko. Kasi naman, instead na “pero,” 

           nasabi ko “perow” – naging long o! ha-ha-ha! But it was unintentional.

Frida: I believe you. And I understand…it happens! It can happen to anyone.

Mindy: Wow, Ingles yun ah!

Frida: Bakit, ikaw lang ba pwedeng mag-English?

Mindy: Ha-ha-ha! Of course not!

Biglang huminto sa paglalakad si Mindy. Niyaya nya akong pumunta kami sa tattoo shop.

Mindy: Magpa-tattoo kaya ako?

Frida: You mean, ngayon?

Mindy: Hindi naman...tingin lang muna tayo. Saan na nga ba yung shop na yun?

Frida: Ayun! Tara!

Pagdating namin sa Tattoo Shop, hindi na kami pumasok sa loob. May malaking poster kasi sa labas.

Mindy: Ang dami namang tanong! Kelangan ba talagang sagutin lahat yan sa

           application form?

Frida: Haynaku! Uwi na tayo...

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Salamat, Frida. Ako ay umaasa at nananalangin na pagkapulutan ng aral ang iyong kwentong nangyari kahapon lamang.

What is wrong with Courtney’s tweets?

Why are you doubting Jessica Sanchez’ being part of Filipino pride? Who are you to question Philippines’ claiming of Jessica Sanchez?

The above questions are how I summarize the reactions of some Filipinos to the tweets of Courtney Blooding, Charice’s manager. Courtney just wanted to understand where the behavior or mentality of Philippine pride was coming from. She posted a question on Twitter, “Here is the question…Why do the Philippines claim Jessica Sanchez? Jessica was born an[d] raised in the US. I don’t THINK she speaks tagalog.” Instead of getting answers to her question, she got the ire of some Filipinos. Courtney was misunderstood. Her tweets were taken out of context. And her tweets ended up on the Internet news and later, on the TV news.

Let's BR (backread)

Before the tweets that were mentioned in the news, Courtney had been expressive (on Twitter) of how much she admired some contestants on the X Factor PH. Even during the auditions, she expressed her admiration for the many talented Filipino singers. Courtney wondered why these Filipino talents were not getting the attention in the Philippines. These tweets did not get to the news.

Courtney  remained puzzled and last September 1, she asked a question on Twitter why she had been hearing on Philippine radio stations a demo recording (by Alexandra Burke) of “Before It Explodes” instead of Charice’s version which was the one officially released. This led to Courtney’s wanting to understand why Charice was not getting support from her own country. She even asked if Charice should first make it big in the US just so she could get enough support from her home country. But then again, those tweets of Courtney did not become news.

Every weekend, Courtney gives updates on the X Factor PH to her followers on Twitter, especially for those who are outside the Philippines and cannot watch the show. A number of her tweets contained her admiration for great performances by the talents on the X Factor PH. These tweets showed her support to the Filipino talents.

If Courtney, an American, could praise and support Filipino talents, would she not do the same to Jessica Sanchez, who, for her, is an American? I don’t think Courtney has a mentality (preferring foreign to local) that Filipinos, in general, have that is why she has been at a loss in trying to understand that particular mentality.

Back to the news

Now back to Courtney’s question that made the news. For me, it was a valid question. If there is anything wrong in it, it is the source of the tweets. The tweets came from Courtney Blooding who is a foreigner, therefore, not a Filipino. Add to this, Courtney is Charice’s manager and the content of her tweets referred to Jessica Sanchez and the Philippine pride.

Generally speaking, Filipinos do not like that kind of question from a foreigner. Foreigners have no right to question what Filipinos like or what Filipinos are doing. No matter what the intentions are, it will be seen as wrong because it comes from a foreigner.

Filipinos have had so much pain already because of foreigners' telling them what was right or what was wrong. Filipinos could not stand being questioned. The first part of Courtney's tweet was a question ("Why do the Philippines claim Jessica Sanchez?") and not a sentence questioning something. For many years now, media people have used questions as a strategy to insinuate something or to stir a controversy. A question is used so that when a writer is criticized or reprimanded, he would say, "It was a question, not a statement." Under such conditioning, some Filipinos might have taken the question of Courtney as that—a sentence questioning something, instead of a question asking for an answer.


Let's answer the question

Some netizens have posted answers to Courtney's question. I would like to add mine. I will base my answer on what I remember from my history classes and from my experiences.

The Philippines was under the Spanish rule for more than 300 years…also under the Americans for (I can’t give a specific number of years)…also under the Japanese for 3 years.

Imagine this...Spain made Filipinos believe that they were of the lesser race; no right to education; were lazy people; were ugly with flat nose, dark-skinned and short in height. Not many opportunities were given to them. Many had accepted this kind of situation because Spain had made Filipinos believe in the goodness of suffering as preached in churches. Spain used religion to control the Philippines. Spain did not want to give education because it would be easier to conquer a group of people who were not educated, who were illiterate.

Americans came and gave Filipinos the right to education. That was a welcome treat. The teachers were Americans. Filipinos learned to read and write. Many learned to speak in English. (Being able to speak in English was equal to being educated and could command respect—some still use this equation.) They used American books that had many things about the beautiful America. Filipinos were also exposed to apples, chocolates and American brands which were called “state-side”—coming from the United States. The Americans were easily liked by the Filipinos because unlike the Spaniards, they were seen as friendly, generous, and did not treat the Filipinos as a lesser race. Americans treated the Filipinos as equal—they were the symbol of equality, liberty and democracy, after all. No matter if this was true (as many people would look at this as a strategy later on) or not, that was how the Filipinos, in general, looked (and still are looking) at the Americans. Also, Americans were white, with high-bridged nose, and tall. So, anything American was good and beautiful. And so, in that sense, anything Filipino was not good and not beautiful (again).

The Japanese were seen as being so cruel that there was a time in the Philippines when many movies were made to show the cruel, the bad, and the foolish Japanese soldiers. The Japanese stayed in the Philippines for three years and much more recent than the Spanish. They left the country in 1945, after WWII. The way we looked at the Japanese cruelty to our people gradually changed as more and more Filipinos went to Japan to work, mostly as entertainers—cultural performers, dancers and singers. Some Filipino women going there were looked down because they worked as hospitality girls at bars in Japan. But that also gradually changed because of the exposure to the progress and technological advancement of Japan. Anything electronics, including cars, that were made in Japan was considered good and beautiful. And those made in the Philippines were not good and not beautiful (again) in that respect.

So, when a Filipino (no matter how small the percentage of Filipino blood running in his or her veins) becomes successful in another country (it has to be outside the Philippines because it is an indication that he or she is among others of a different race or races when the success is achieved), the Philippines takes pride in whatever kind of achievement it may be. It is an indication that Filipinos, who were once belittled and considered an inferior race, can do it. There is, however, a caution to this going away from the Philippines.

When a Filipino has gone to other countries and comes home bringing with him or her a part of the foreign culture like language and fashion, it’s considered negative. This kind of thinking could also be influenced by the colonization, especially under the Spanish rule. If a Filipino (even if he or she did not go to Spain) had a hint of being Spanish , who was the enemy at that time, he or she would become the talk of the town. The value given to “being a true Filipino” was of highest importance. Filipinos should be united and should not lose their being Filipinos.

This thinking has gone forward up to the present time, no matter from what foreign country one has gone to. But the USA is special because, for the Filipinos, among the foreign countries,  it is in the top rank of what is good and beautiful. A Filipino who continues to speak the native language, retains physical looks, etc. will be hailed as someone who is a true Filipino. In addition, this may also come from a very dear saying, “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” (Someone who does not look back to his origin will not be able to reach his destination.) This saying could have different interpretations in terms of looking back to one’s origin, the Filipino origin. So, if a Filipino has actions similar to Americans, even if the US is seen as the good and the beautiful, he or she is seen as someone not doing the right thing, as someone not being a true Filipino.


Let's take a second look

Courtney also tweeted, "If only the people of the Philippines would stop looking elsewhere and focus on local things, maybe they could see the value of many of the great people and resources there. Many great things and people there. It's just a group mentality that it's not good enough."  As an outsider, Courtney sees things many of us do not see. I hope we consider taking a second look at where we are now exactly.

This whole thing reminded me of a Japanese soldier, Lt. Hiroo Onoda, who hid in the Philippine jungle for many years after the World War II had ended. He was in hiding because he did not know that the war was over. He hid because of fear.

Filipinos should fear no more.

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I’m a 5th Judge on the X Factor PH

The mentor was more emotional than her contestant who landed in the bottom two.

I was not surprised to see Charice being that when Kedebon was announced safe leaving Allen and Joan in the bottom two. That’s the Charice I came to know after watching a video of her 2009 interview with Boy Abunda. During the interview, she told Boy that when she heard her name announced as the third placer in Little Big Star (LBS), all she had in mind was “Pano na?”

Pano na? can roughly be translated into English as How is it going to be from here on? At her very young age, 12 or 13, Charice thought about her family’s well-being. It seemed that she so seriously took it upon herself to bring her family out of the everyday hardship that not being chosen as the LBS grand champion, and therefore, not getting the million-peso prize, was devastating, painful, frustrating, and seemed the end of the road for her.

I don’t know what Charice actually felt last Sunday night during the elimination episode of the X Factor PH. There is no way of knowing the exactness of her feelings and her thoughts. All I know is I saw the same Charice that I saw in the 2009 interview. Charice is taking the mentoring of the girls seriously and with all her heart.

I’m sure the other mentors are taking their responsibilities seriously, too. I have no doubt about that. Based on their sharing of experiences in the 24 episodes so far, I can say that all of them are taking their roles to the highest point that they could possibly bring them to. I have high regard and respect for all of them. Being a judge-mentor is no way an easy job.

If the voting results could be used to gauge the seriousness of the mentors, Martin would be at the top and Ms. Pilita, at the bottom. But voting results do not measure that. Voting results do not even measure the preparations they do every week. Neither do they measure the qualities of the contestants’ singing voices, their talents, and their abilities to entertain. And I don’t think they can measure the future successes of the contestants.

So, what do voting results measure? Is it the popularity of the contestants? Is it the probability of high returns of investment for ABS-CBN? Is it the rating of the show? Is it the joy and/or anger of the public? Any ideas, readers?

To be honest, the primary reason why I decided to watch the X Factor Philippines was Charice. But as the show progressed, I saw some contestants with great talents. I was so carried away by their performances that I told myself there should be more Filipinos in the global music industry. Then came the selection of the final 20. I got very involved at that point. I had my own list which I could not bring down to only 20. Like the four judges, I had the hardest time in the girls category.

To be honest, Allen was not in my top list among the girls. I could not feel the songs she sang before the live airing of the show. Her first live performance, however, wowed me and I became a believer of her talent that night.

To be honest, I had given up on singing competitions with voting by the public. When the first day of voting for the X Factor PH came, I sent a few votes. And I mean a few votes. I regretted it. I regretted sending votes less than what I could afford. Even if host KC reiterated that the names were in no particular order, when I saw the worried faces of Charice and the girls after each name from other groups was called, I felt guilty. Allen was the first to be called from Team Charice. She was the 7^th to be called to safety. That was agony seven times over. KZ was also called but not Jerrianne. She was at the bottom two together with Joan. The judges’ votes finally sent Jerrianne home and I was guilty. And later on, I was angry with myself.

With all due respect to Joan, I’ve come to like her voice. I agree with the judges about her voice being distinct and I could imagine myself listening to her voice on my music player. But my vote was for Jerrianne. Was I biased because she was in Team Charice? Maybe. But maybe not. I say “maybe” because I’d like to support Charice and the girls she mentors. I say “maybe not” because I witnessed Jerrianne’s great potential after she sang The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and more so after she slayed At Last. I go for singers who sing to my heart and to my soul. Jerrianne did just that.

I agree 100% to what Martin said before sending Joan home last Sunday. He said Allen sang her life while Joan sang a song. That, to me, separates artists from singers. I believe all the contestants, including Joan, can bring out the artists in them.

Speaking of Martin, one of his boys, Kedebon, has become the most controversial contestant in the X Factor PH. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had actually topped the voting results every Sunday night. While there are people who blame and bash him for staying in the game when their favorites have gone home, there are others who defend him. And I’d like to defend him here by asking, “Is it the fault of Kedebon when he gets the needed votes to stay in the competition?” It's not even a fault.

Let’s be reminded of the mechanics of the competition. We all know that the voters are the 5^th judge. The other four judges come into the picture only after the 5^th judge has  decided on the bottom two. The 5^th judge actually has the power to choose which two contestants will be brought to the four judges’ table. And if the four judges cannot tip the scale, better known as the DEADLOCK, again, the 5^th judge will be called to decide. That’s how powerful the 5^th judge is. That’s the kind of power we can choose to have.

After Jerrianne was sent home during the first elimination night, I decided to be a powerful judge. I became an active 5^th judge. While the four judges experience the difficult task every Sunday night, I also have my own difficulty every voting time. I call this experience The Blind Fight which is more difficult than entering a closed bid. At least in the latter, one can have an idea of the possible participants and their financial capabilities and strategies, but not in the former—my blind fight to keep my favorites away from the bottom two.

Have I sent enough votes? How many more votes do I need to send to assure my favorites’ safe positions? Should I watch a movie this week or spend my money on votes? Perhaps, I can watch a movie sans the popcorn and drinks. Am I sending too many votes this week? Should I save some for next week? No! It’s too risky! That’s the blind fight I enter into every weekend. And I’m not complaining. This kind of fight is part of the mechanics. It’s a given.

I’m willingly participating in the blind fight even if I have no idea if my power can size up against the power of the other contestants’ voters. And if my favorites landed in the bottom two, or worse, if they were sent home, I should not question the integrity of the people involved in the counting of votes. I should not doubt the seriousness of the mentors. I should not condemn the song choices. I should not point a finger to the sound engineers. I should not look down on the voters whose favorites differ from mine. Who am I to judge their preferences?

If none of my favorites would become the first ever champion of the X Factor Philippines, I should not blame myself because I’m now exercising my power to the fullest of my capacity—I’m taking my being a 5^th judge seriously. And I would not allow myself to blame anyone, throw tantrums, nor bully people on the Net. But I would allow my heart to feel sadness. I would allow my tears to fall. It's okay if I would be more emotional than my favorites.