what is the filipino dream?

we popularly hear the american dream, which is more inclined with the economic aspect of living in the land of milk and honey, not only among americans but even among people living outside the us. but then i wondered, here in the philippines, do we actually have a dream of our own? is there such a thing as a filipino dream?

yes, we do. as silly as it can be imagined.

40 years ago, the national dream of every filipino is to become an actor/ actress. it was rooted within the extremity of the fan culture in the country during the late 60s to the early 70s. it was something more than the japanese people are now. it reached its peak when it reached the phenomenal vilma santos and nora aunor rivalry, where the country was literally put into half: the vilmanians and the noranians.

vilma became the icon of the tisay fairness that was typically the common definition of beauty in the country even up to now. but she proved to the people that she is more than that. she excelled in her craft by giving out sheer talent in acting (again, its acting, not singing), the same reason why she was loved and still love by her audience.


on the other hand, nora aunor redefined the philippine film industry by proving that a young, typically looking girl, who was once selling iced water along train rails in the province can actually be big in the industry. thus, it gave hope to almost all typically looking filipinos.


i even remember myself when i was a kid saying that i also wanted to be an actor someday, regardless how embarassing it was. but who doesn't wanted to be one, right? now, i am thinking, is it still the dominating definition of the filipino dream?

if the philippine dream before was reflected on how the show, "that's entertainment" rated. today, we could no longer determine it by watching the same host's show, "walang tulugan." darn, it will definitely show us an entirely different scenario.

if you want to know how is it still holding atleast in the metro, just turn on your tv and switch your channel to the tons of reality shows we have. if you are lucky enough, you might bump into the audition episodes and feast yourself upon the long pile or even seas of people doing everything as in EVERYTHING to win a slot in the show. as an audience we just get tired of hearing all the well fabricated and sometime inconsistent stories of their lives and their common aspiration to lift their family from poverty--- the typical filipino drama. most of these people are stuck with the belief that the only way to help their family is to become a star. but with all the challenges that a common filipino struggles with his everyday life just to land a decent job, who can blame them, right?

nonetheless, i believe that the filipino dream of becoming an actor/actress already seized down. in comparison, with what it was before. probably, after the stardom of nora aunor, no typically looking filipino followed her. thus, the filipino dream shifted from becoming an actor/actress to the filipino diaspora of leaving the country.

accept it or not, today, most filipinos mindset of success is anchored upon leaving the country and having a job elsewhere. this is clearly manifested on the kind of college courses we have. as of the moment, nursing, engineering and maritime are the three most populated courses in the country; and all of which are in demand professions all over the world.

then i wonder, is this really our filipino dream? and how is it different from the american dream? there are just too many questions running in my head right now, that i could no longer decipher how my personal dream differs from both dreams. at the end, i just have to ask myself, why do we really have to tie everything about ourselves to america?

sigh.

my top 100 favorite films (80-71)

80. 50 first dates (2004) the film tells the story about a woman (drew barrimore) suffers who memoryry loss up to the point of her accident, everytime she wakes up de to an accident. and how a man (adam sandler) have struggled to win her heart each day.

i say: how will you love someone who forgets everything the next day? simple, love as if its always your first.

79. magic temple (1996) and magic kingdom (1997)
the adventure of three teenagers as they journey to magical places and meet incredible creatures. in the amidst of their quest, they will find out the meaning of life, independence, love and friendship.

i say: two of peque gallaga's best movie contributions in the philippine film industry. the movie is well thought and probably set the standard of fantasy movies in the country.


78. the elephant (2003)
based from a true story about what was thought to be a simple highschool american life and how it was changed.

i say: the film is extremely slow paced and it is also noticeable how the film was extended in order to fit for a film length movie.


77. tick tock lullabies (2007)
the story of two lesbian couples who have put their relationship, one step ahead--- deciding to have a baby. but in order to do so, they need to lure a man to impregnate one of them. little they know, the complications behind the plan they have in mind.

i say: a breath of fresh air when it comes to kesbian independent movies.


76. brother's grimm (2005)
one of the classic children fairytale come to life. the movie tells the story of a mysterious disappearance of children in a remote village. and how two brothers have unravelled this mystical enigma.

i say: the production was marvelously created and both heath ledger and monica belluci were perpetually delighting in the eyes.


75. babae sa break water (2003)
considered as one of the eye opening movies in the philippines. it highlighted the pictures of manila that have been kept hidden from the eyes of the mass audience.


i say: unbelievablly real but definitely a good dose of reality.


74. ferngully: the last rain forest (1992)
an animated film that tells the story about an inquisitive and mischievous fairy named crysta as she help to save her beloved ferngully, a rainforest.

i say: i was already an environmentalist as such a young age because of this movie.

73. 300 (2006)
a story about a troop of spartan warriors who valantly fought the massive army of the persians, to protect their culture and polis (city-state)

i say:the story is too believable to become a myth.one of the finest 3G animation for me. the details and crisp of its visual effect was remarkably astounding. a must watch!

72. bata, bata, paano ka ginawa? (1999)
the story of a woman who struggled to voice out her right in a male dominated environment. and how she struggled to teach her children, both with different fathers, how their situation is no different from anybody else.

i say: the best vilma santos movie for me. in my opinion, greater than relasyon, sister stella L, and burlesk queen. for it unfolds several feminist issues in a newly emerging filipino contemporary setting.


71. apocalypto (2006)
the film narrates the story of jaguar paw, a hunter who lives outside the great mayan civilization. how he and his village people were captured as sacrifices to prevent a prophecy of their civilization's fall.

i say: this will definitely test your tolerance with gore and your open mindedness with the topic of the primitive man.

karma chameleon

popularity is one of the most sought up things in this world: next to power, money, love, sex and pleasure. most of us will do everything and i mean EVERYTHING just to achieve it. well, just like everything that is hard to possess, popularity requires the will, determination, hardwork, skills, charisma, talent and sometimes even good opportunity in order to own it. but not all of us are blessed with the whole package, thus, there are those who overtake others, regradless if it will cost the other party a lot. as machievelli said it, man is innately evil: and this was confirmed later on by social darwinist with the line, the survival of the fittest.


but pulling up the humanistic me, i feel that human beings are not innately evil rather they are just push by the situation. but don't get me wrong. this rationale will never serve as a justification to the action that has been done or being done. i just felt the need to raise it up for us to understand the other side of the coin.


the other day, a friend sent me a message regarding a person who was bashing another friend through email threads. the person, who was sending this message created a dummy email and hid him/herself anonymously. although the details of the message were not that clear, i still felt bad for him. probably because i know, my friend doesn't have any means to defend himself since he doesn't even know who this person is.


i wanted to advise him to just ignore the person because i figured, reacting will just ignite the spark into fire: and casting a fight will just make him stoop down lower than his level. but then i realized, where is "fighting for your right? line i used to say?


there is a great wall of china between criticism and being cynical - or arguing for the sake of arguing. if someone wants to create and send out a constructive criticism, atleast, one should open up a venue from which the thoughts of idea will be free flowing, not the type of set up that is one way.

i have also heard that this person is not only bashing a specific individual.but also sending out emails about random people. well, from that, you can already tell that this person is buying popularity.

the thing with many people, and i will not exclude myself from this, is that a part of their attention and interest are usually tied with prying another person's life. but aside from the one previously mentioned, one should always be reminded that there is also a thick line between killing time and killing a person: and the latter is something that we usually miss to consider--- karma chamelion.



*sorry, hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan kung bakit madami pa ring papampam. hahaha.