The Way of the Saturday
March 12, Saturday:
While waiting at Tita Erlinda's place at Leichhardt, was watching Spanish news. Despite the Philippines being a former Spanish colony, of course the language is now generally incomprehensible for most Filipinos. Spanish is spoken probably by more than a hundred million people all over the world, from Spain, to its near-similar cousin, Portugal, to the Latin American countries, some parts of Africa and some islands, yet no one is proposing that the Philippines re-adopt Spanish as a medium of instruction, not like English. Or 'US English,' which only makes the neocolonial outlook in present Philippine 'leaders' very glaring.
***
Filipino fiesta at the Gosford waterfront. It is really amazing to me how an activity that's intended to be a community affair can sometimes look like a sponsor's event. There was ABS-CBN global having a segment where you have silly questions like 'How much is the monthly fee for TFC?' I hear echoes of complaints by people from Iloilo when the hosts of ABS-CBN's MTB aggressively tried to appropriate the Dinagyang as if it were just part of the show. It's the commodification of tradition and community events all over again.
To be fair, different groups were able to present their song and/or dance numbers -traditional Filo fare that they are - and there was even a priest that sermoned on the evils of greed and materialism. It was a fun affair all over.
***
Attended UP alumni assoc meeting. Part of the new generation, a few though we may be. Anyone from the Philippines needing legal help, I met a former regional trial court judge, asking if I knew people who needed her advice. She's more than willing I surmise, from altruistic motives and because her legal expertise would now be unutilized in this society with its own laws.
Was talking to a grad from same college as mine, he points out studies of theirs regarding Sydneysiders. He tells me that because of the privatization of services, ie, in bars (not that they weren't private before; he means the introduction of vices like gambling), the individualization has contributed to an unbelievable statistic of one in five Sydneysiders having mental problems such as depression. Even if the figures are much less than this, it would be a significant trend that points to the ill effects of gambling and the 'cult of the individual' (quoted from a professor of mine). Whereas before, pubs would be used for social occasions, ie, celebration of birthdays or holidays, now people are more alone, despite the wealth of this city. Moreover, in suburbs in the Inner West, places where people greet you (even if they don't know you), the habit is now getting less and less practiced. Hurrah for individualism indeed.
While waiting at Tita Erlinda's place at Leichhardt, was watching Spanish news. Despite the Philippines being a former Spanish colony, of course the language is now generally incomprehensible for most Filipinos. Spanish is spoken probably by more than a hundred million people all over the world, from Spain, to its near-similar cousin, Portugal, to the Latin American countries, some parts of Africa and some islands, yet no one is proposing that the Philippines re-adopt Spanish as a medium of instruction, not like English. Or 'US English,' which only makes the neocolonial outlook in present Philippine 'leaders' very glaring.
***
Filipino fiesta at the Gosford waterfront. It is really amazing to me how an activity that's intended to be a community affair can sometimes look like a sponsor's event. There was ABS-CBN global having a segment where you have silly questions like 'How much is the monthly fee for TFC?' I hear echoes of complaints by people from Iloilo when the hosts of ABS-CBN's MTB aggressively tried to appropriate the Dinagyang as if it were just part of the show. It's the commodification of tradition and community events all over again.
To be fair, different groups were able to present their song and/or dance numbers -traditional Filo fare that they are - and there was even a priest that sermoned on the evils of greed and materialism. It was a fun affair all over.
***
Attended UP alumni assoc meeting. Part of the new generation, a few though we may be. Anyone from the Philippines needing legal help, I met a former regional trial court judge, asking if I knew people who needed her advice. She's more than willing I surmise, from altruistic motives and because her legal expertise would now be unutilized in this society with its own laws.
Was talking to a grad from same college as mine, he points out studies of theirs regarding Sydneysiders. He tells me that because of the privatization of services, ie, in bars (not that they weren't private before; he means the introduction of vices like gambling), the individualization has contributed to an unbelievable statistic of one in five Sydneysiders having mental problems such as depression. Even if the figures are much less than this, it would be a significant trend that points to the ill effects of gambling and the 'cult of the individual' (quoted from a professor of mine). Whereas before, pubs would be used for social occasions, ie, celebration of birthdays or holidays, now people are more alone, despite the wealth of this city. Moreover, in suburbs in the Inner West, places where people greet you (even if they don't know you), the habit is now getting less and less practiced. Hurrah for individualism indeed.
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