stampeding poverty, pseudo generosity

(Medyo history na ini na post but i want to share this still. This article was originally published at Landmarks (DAR Publication) last year. Surprisingly, the points I raised were similar to PDI's Editorial last February 7, 2006 on the ULTRA stampede. May premonition ba ako or talagang jinx lang? Nanay ko, mapasantigwar na ako!!! Anyway, should i say enjoy reading or try to enjoy while reading....whatever...)

REALITY GAME, PINOY VERSION
By Toteperez, PIO – DAR Sorsogon


A priest – formator in a high school seminary were I studied once gave a very amusing remark during an opening ceremony in one of our intramurals. He claimed that the honorable founders of our venerable institution made an inadvertent omission in our seminary motto, which says ORA, STUDE ET LABORA (Latin for prayer, study and work). Obviously, PLAY was missing. But he opined that the founders were wise enough not to include that word since we play while we pray, study and work anyway. He concluded that intramurals is one great occasion when we can play, officially and formally.

The short speech elicited hilarious laughter. I dismissed it as one of the wittiest speeches I ever heard in my life. But years later while taking up college in a religious congregation, I finally understood the truth and the wisdom behind that memorable remark.

We were then regularly assigned to do simple chores such as washing dishes and cleaning the grounds. Consistently, it was observed that when Filipino confreres were doing the dishes, the wash area is one happy place filled with laughter, jokes, singing and other acts that go along while doing the job.

But the opposite happens when Koreans are doing the dishes; you can only hear the sound of tinkling utensils and flowing water from faucets as if washing the dishes is one form of meditation. I dared to ask one Korean brother on their “Sound of Silence.” He simply said : “You know, we Koreans work when we work and play when we play. You Filipinos work and play at the same time!”

Most, if not all Filipinos cope up with life’s challenges by making it easier with wit, humor and, yes, play. Laro – laro lang ang buhay, ‘ika nga (life’s a game, they say). If you take your life seriously in the present day Philippines, chances are, you may lose your sanity - nakakapraning, as the pun goes.

Living in a Third World Country with unstable economy and politics, life will surely be a roller – coaster hell-of-a-ride complete with unpredictable ups, downs, turns and swerves. Because of life’s unpredictability, Filipinos tend to gamble with it and even make pusta or bet on anything that is worth betting on.

Pustahan is one overused word that finds its way in every Filipino’s conversation. Filipinos make pusta on anything “under the sun” so to speak like; the weather - taya ng panahon (weather forecast), courtship, job, business transactions, politics, sports, and what have you. Filipinos are more than creative to innovate on anything that is possible for betting.

Even some unexpected situations were exploited to satisfy the urge to bet. Imagine the popular “ending” game, i.e. betting on the last digits on the final results of any Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game. Even a child’s play was not spared ; Laban ng Gagamba (spider’s fight) elicits betting from adult mirons (onlookers). Definitely, no other country has this kind of craving for betting but “Onli In Da Pilipins!”

Pustahan only confirms one thing : The innate desire to gain reward, profit or benefit, usually monetary. It also presupposes one reality : the existence of an imbalanced condition wherein the bettor has to risk his meager resources with slim chance to gain greater rewards. But why do Filipinos indulge in pustahan under this circumstance ?

This is where the Bahala Na (Come What May) Attitude comes to the fore. Scholars claim that bahala na attitude may actually mean “Bathala Na ” (God will provide). This displaced folk religiosity has both positive and negative implications. If taken on a positive light, this is a manifestation of complete trust with God’s generous grace, or just plain guts, will or drive to achieve despite the odds. However, on the negative, this is a display of complete disregard of whatever consequences may come along or just plain crazy risk taking.

Be it uncalculated risk taking or just pure will to win in a very unwarranted situation, it does not matter anymore for what matters to majority of the Filipinos who live below poverty line is to survive in a life that seems to be a game of chance.

No wonder game shows on television are gaining wide and wild following due to instantaneous rewards it project complete with noisy fanfare. Long queues stretching lengthily before the gates of big television networks define the cross section of Filipino society, each of them hoping and praying for lady luck to smile favorably at their side.

Likewise, advertisers and network owners both wear wide grins on their faces as if hitting a pot of gold as revenues and sales pour in like rain on this genre of show. Eventually, they are the real winners of the entire performance of the so-called reality TV shows complete with drama and suspense. Brief on –air interviews on game show contestants and winners would reveal an otherwise unrehearsed real-life stories that could pass as soap drama materials. Exploiting raw emotions on camera makes the supposedly entertainment show a tearjerker as if tears and wailing would elicit enjoyment from the viewers.

But the real purpose for these emotionally – charged acts is to project a benevolent image for the station and sometimes, the hosts themselves. Its was even reported that people trooped to the house of a famous (or infamous) game show host, asking for donations and dole – outs thinking that he was responsible for the rewards at stake during game shows, despite his tarnished image. Soon, we can even expect some game show hosts running and winning on elected positions.

The television game shows cater to the basic Filipino penchant to believe on fairytale – like stories of rags-to-riches by taking the shortcut of hitting the jackpot instead of taking the circuitous process and honest-to-goodness hard work to succeed in life. Even the fad of reality talent search shows on TV is an affirmation of this desire to pusta oneself in one reality game show.

The TV game shows or even reality talent search shows are venues where Filipinos create heroes or ‘mythos’ out of themselves, projecting their dreams on the prizes at stake. Most if not all of those who patiently stayed on the queue just to join on these shows are not there just for fun and entertainment. They are there because they are hanging on to dear life - kapit sa patalim (clutching on the blade), they have no more option left but gamble their future on a TV game or reality talent search shows to improve their lot, placing all their trust to the production team and network owners and sponsoring advertisers.

Established TV game shows and reality talent search shows may reach its peak and wane in popularity in the passage of time, but for sure, these will just metamorphose, reformat and resurrect like phoenixes from the ashes. TV network marketing and sales executives even become more creative in injecting some ‘games’ even on Telenovelas by flashing some trivia questions regarding the episodes and other similar gimmicks, of course with corresponding prizes at stake.

As long as majority of the Filipinos remain poor and were denied access to basic services that they ought to enjoy and benefit from, they will continually put their trust and belief in the palliative solutions that TV networks offer through these shows on game of luck. And as long as the Filipinos treat elections like a game of chance, the vicious cycle of poverty will steadily grind.

To prove this point : I once asked a voter why is she voting for her chosen candidate. Her reply ? She is voting for her candidate because he has the highest chance of winning. Another incident : I asked another voter why is he not casting his vote yet with almost only a few minutes before the voting precincts close. His answer which I really expected to hear ; He is waiting for the highest ‘bidder’ to buy his vote.

Maybe my former priest – formator was right, so does the Korean confrere. There is a need to put delineation between play and other acts, there is a need to separate reality from make – believe.

This way, we can be serious with life as needed and play when we really mean it.
For sure we will have higher chances of winning in the game called LIFE.