ATTENTION: Where?

It’s very funny.

Yes it is but not in a good way...

It is a positive Filipino character to be proud of our own. One of the best examples of this, aside from Manny Pacquiao fever (which I don’t want to talk about for god’s sake), is the overwhelming support and the huge feeling of going gaga over the half-Filipina Jessica Sanchez who is now commanding massive global attention. Filipinos all over the world seem to tug over strings attaching to each and everyone to help elevate her as the first Filipina who will win as American Idol which for me is very ironic.

Although I for one, as a fan, is also proud of her but I just feel that the Filipino hype over her is becoming overrated. Minsan OA na! As the show suggests, it is a competition of the best American singer and Jessica is an American. Regardless of the of being a half-Pinoy, it’s not as if she was sent there as a Filipino representative. So why let American’s decide who they want.

I do not deny the fact that uniting towards a good cause, though we sometimes become overly fanatic,  is a wonderful Filipino character. We’ve proven it before. However, I hate to think that we are greedy of wanting to get credit and be mentioned. I somehow see it as making papansin to the point of promoting cheating just so we could vote for her.

Sometimes, the overreaction over Filipinos making their names in the global scene is somewhat annoying at times. I am an avid fan of America’s Next Top Model and I was so excited then when I read an article about Anne Curtis and a Filipino designer, Francis Libiran, being featured in the show just to find out it was only 3 seconds of exposure. Georgina Wilson’s debut in the same show was even better. Though it was only for seconds at least she got the chance to speak.

It all boils down to our penchant of wanting much attention which for a fact I know we already earned for numerous reasons. I don’t seem to get the point. Parang ‘pag may palabas sa Amerika at nahagip ng camera ang kurtina sasabihin, “Uy, sa Pilipinas galing ‘yun!” and the next day it is in the news and papers. Sometimes we create so much drama on things that other nations refer to as usual.

On the other hand, when things turn to worst we do the opposite. We become too cocky of the laurels that our kababayans earn that sometimes we soar so high up and reap a fall so fast and painful. Just like the news of Jonathan Aquino, a caregiver caught mistreating his patient. It hurts the Filipino ego because we are putting our care providers in the frontline as one of the finest. Very disappointing.

If we are really wonderful and we are proud of our own then why is the country still drowning in poverty? It’s because we are blind.

Sometimes I laugh at politicians enumerating their accomplishments while the poor is still ailing. Habang naghihingalo ang bansa patuloy sila sa pagbabangayan at pagpapatalsik sa isa’t isa.

If you live a life of a Pinoy commoner you will get a hint of what I am saying. You would see people living in a kariton and are sleeping under the bridge. You would often encounter kids, looking all frail, climbing up passenger jeeps to distribute envelopes with notes, “Kuya/Ate pahingi naman ng pambili ng pagkain.” You would sometimes see the poor being denied of the service from public hospitals because they don’t have money. It’s true. Marami nang namatay sa mga pampublikong ospital dahil ‘di natugunan agad.

I was once a victim of my own kababayan’s crab mentality. I was all sweaty because of the long queue in NBI Main Office when I reached one of the teller’s which was so condescending and sobrang mataray. She was rude for a public servant that knows customer service. It was funny that it’s so quick for her to switch moods and be so nice when it’s time for the person after me. Guess what? He is an American.

I might take home raised brows from readers but I can’t help but say these things. We are poor. We are trying to move forward but at a very slow pace. A lot of people would blame the government for their mishaps not realizing that it is them who put the ones they’re condemning to their position.

We always want attention. It is not bad nor evil. Pero hindi na natin kailangang i-promote ng sobra. Hayaan nating hangaan tayo ng ibang bansa sa tamang paraan sa mga bagay na deserving tayo. Sa huli, ang credits ay atin at mas masarap ang paghangang ibinibigay ng kusa.

We just need to learn to focus our attention to important things that will help our country and ourselves. I hope we do before it works against us.

PS: My fingers are crossed for Jessica’s win.