Thursday, March 22, 2012

Crab Mentality and Racism in the Philippines

Time: 1:54 a.m.
Where: In the couch.
Now Playing: "Heart in Your Heartbreak" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

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Well, like most of the 92 million people living in the Philippines, I am proud to be a Filipino. I love our motherland, our culture, our natural resources. Before, we were one of the leading nations in Asia during the Marcos regime but decades after, we were left behind. Why? It's merely because "crab mentality" is all around us up to now. Which do you prefer? Choc-nut or Hersheys? There's the meaning of it in terms of the world of business where most of us realistically chose to buy foreign-based things compared to our locally made ones. Crab mentality isn't just all about marketing but it can go social as well. Crab mentality is one of the Philippines' major problems in both the business and social issues.


In other parts of the world, "racism" is really unacceptable and the world changes it's views about it and the judgement is not on the skin color, it's on the characteristics and here in the country, most of the Filipinos are not aware how racism goes around the world, on how big the consequences if you deal with racism? Recently, an ESPN reporter was sacked after making a racial slur on Jeremy Lin on his article. Luis Suarez and John Terry had their problems too. Thanks to Martin Luther King, he changes the world but still racism is a problem around the world and how we can fight it? I just simply can't deal with these problems even up to this.

Recently, the Azkals made history in Philippine football by winning their best finish yet in a high-caliber tournament they participated and that's the AFC Challenge Cup. They also made history by getting in to the semi-finals of the said tourney and eventually finished 3rd place. While the Azkals celebrate, I watched Unang Hirit, Wednesday morning at March 14 and I can't believe that I am speechless. Arnold Clavio just said some harsh words along with racial slurs around our national team. "Hindi kayo kayumanggi", "nagpapanggap lang kayong mga Pilipino". Mr. Clavio was one of the most respectable journalists in our nation until this happened. The report was the making of the semi-final of the Azkals and he just talked about the alleged sexual harassment which was totally unrelated and he expressed his frustrations about it and caught on national TV. Yes, we can express our opinions but he just crossed the line and like what I said earlier, racism is UNACCEPTABLE. It's not just the Azkals became a victim here but the OFWs sons and daughters who have found relationship with other nationalities, their hardships to bring the Philippines growing in terms of growth at nabale wala dahil sa mga sinabi nito ni Crabio and it's just plain unacceptable.

I saw some comments about the issue of both the 'alleged' sexual harassment and this 'Crabio' issue and some of the fans understand that racism and crab mentality is unacceptable but here's my take on this situation:

If Angel and Lexton did disrespect Ms. Ramos then punish them both but I just don't know why Ms. Ramos wants even to punish all the Azkals, just because they laughed. Is it me or this woman is bitter and tries to bring our national team down? Talking about crab mentality here and "ang babaw talaga ng reasoning niya". I know that sexual harassment is inexcusable here but I think she's going on public display of attention here. I am not judging her because it's pretty clear that she wants all the Azkals to suffer where only 2 lang naman ang alleged. Crab mentality talaga. Gusto pa sa AFC agad mag-reklamo at hindi sa PFF. She really wants attention. She's using the popularity of the team to down them and others seem to support her of making the Azkals down. I just simply wish that this issue resolve shortly so we can move on. I will continue to support our national team and show my Filipino pride. I don't mean to be racist at this one but I will say this for the others to understand "na mas may pusong Pinoy pa ang mga lumalaban para sa bayan, half man or hindi, kesa sa inyong walang sawang nagbabatikos upang ibagsak ang ating koponan."

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Time: 2:30 a.m.
Where: Still here.
Now Playing: "Silenced by the Night" by Keane.