“American Idol” ng mga Puti

Sanaysay
Mayo 25, 2012

“American Idol” ng mga Puti

Ni Arturo P. Garcia

Magsasabi ako ng totoo. Itinuturing ko ang American Idol bilang isang bersyon ng “Hunger Games.”

Hindi ako nanonood ng American Idol, una dahil ito ay isang palabas ng rasistang istasyon ng media na Fox- na tinig din ng mga Republikanong anti-migrante at laban sa mga mamamayang may kulay at hindi puti.

Nagpapasalamat nga ako at nasa eroplano ako at di napanood ang resulta. Nalaman ko lang ito pagdating ko sa LAX at lumabas ang lahat ng mura sa lahat ng wikang alam ko sa galit.

Siyang tunay na hindi pa handa ang Amerika sa isang Asyano, babae at isang Pilipina.

Malalim talaga ang ugat ng rasismo at nagtagumpay nagwagayway ang bandilang Confederate ng Georgia. Sino ang magsasabing tapos na ang gyera sibil sa Amerika matapos ang 150 taon ng di umano’y tagumpay ng Unyon?

Kayat inaasahan ko nang hindi mananalo si Jessica, kahit na puno ng pag-asa ang mga kapwa Pilipino. Hindi ko sila sinasala sa kanilang pag-asa. Dahil alam ko namang matututo din ang mga Pilipino sa kanilang madugong karanasan sa rasismo ng Amerika.

Sa halip napuyat pa nga ako sa pagboto kasama sa isang “voting session”sa Virginia kasama ang mga Pilipino sa Maryland at Virginia. Kasama akong pumalakpak sa magandang pagpapakita at pagkanta ni Jessica. Napatunayan ko ang kasabihang lagging sinasabi ng aking ama: “The singer not the song.”

Maraming nagsasabi na na sour grapes daw ang reaksyon natin. Natural lang yon lalo na at alam at napatunayan mong rasista pa rin ang Amerika. Dapat nga hindi American Idol ang show na ito. Dapat palitan na nila itong “White American Idol.”

Pero hindi si Jessica ang nawalan kundi ang Fox at American idol ng ipakait nila ang karangalang ito. Ito ay dahil siya ay Pilipina at Asyano.Nabubuwist lang ako sa sweet lemon reaction ng marami lalo ng mga nasa gobyerno ng Pilipinas at mga artistang maka-Amerikano. Panalo parin daw si Jessica, kahit natalo.

Ang talo ay talo. Kahit ano sabihin mo talo pa rin. “Bagoong and Talong. Kamatis at bagoong” sabi nga ng mga bata! Panumbat sa mga talunan.

Kitang kita nakayuko si Philips dahil alam niya sa puso niya na bagamat siya ang American Idol, si Jessica ang idolo ng masa at madla.

Diyan naman ako bilib sa mga tunay na Amerikano, sila ay tunay at tapat( honest) at hindi pretentious. Di tulad nating Pilipino na nagmana sa mga among Kastila, inaapi na nakangiti pa rin at nagpapasalamat pa sa singhal, bugbog at alipusta ng among asendero.

Sabi nga ng isang Pilipinang tagahanga ni Jessica; “Suportado naming si Jessica, dahil pagtumindig siya at umawit, dala niya ang bansang Pilipinas. Hindi siya nagiisa. Tangan niya ang bandila ng Pilipinas.”

Sa mga mapaklang lemonadang lalo na ang mga sipsip pa rin sa Amerika, dina kayo nadala. Sinabi na nga ng Amerika na hindi siya makikialam sa laban ng Tsina at Pilipinas, asa pa kayong susuporta ang mga puti sa atin. Mga hanggal! Mga isip-tuta talaga!

Tapos pupurihin pa ninyo si Jessica, bilang tunay na American Idol, talo na nga, pwe!

Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa palabang diwa at makabayang damdamin ng lahat ng Pilipino sa Amerika maging sa ating inang bayang Pilipinas. Saludo ako sa inyong lahat.

Hindi man tayo tanggap ng rasistang Amerika, patuloy tayong makikibaka para makamtan ang tunay na pagkakapantay-pantay.

Tulad ng iba pang mamamayang may kulay ( people of color), alam natin mahaba pa ang ating lalakbayin.

Ang pagkatalo ni Jessica ay isang patunay na marami pang hadlang sa ating layunin.

Ngunit inspirado pa rin tayo ng batong pananda ni Martin Luther King Jr:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Mangahas Makibaka, Kamtin ang Tagumpay!

White American Idol

May 24, 2012

White American Idol

The confederate flag flies proudly when Philip Philips won the American Idol.

On the other hand, the star and stripes of the Union that stood for equality lay in the dust.

The flag that many people of color learned to love, a symbol of equality was struck down when the racist Fox did not accept an Asian American as a winner and did all it can to make another “White Guy With Guitar” win as the American Idol at the expense of talented  Asian female Jessica Sanchez.

It was an affront to all women of color. A slap in the face of all people who had talent and all Asian Americans most especially to the Filipinos in America.

We cannot help to explain the political implications of this “Idol” win. First, it is contentious and dashed the hope of so many people. It is just the feeling of “hoping against hope” that the Filipino American community banded together to make Jessica Sanchez and just to see their hopes dashed.

Second, the symptoms and signs were there. While Jessica was given  the  short straw, Philips were given a standing ovation by the Idol judges. She was given a song, yet  she interpreted it to the best of ability. Philips stuck to the American country songs, as if setting himself up for the kill.

And last, Other analyst explained that the usual Midwest votes made Philips win. The Filipino-American community and other people of color votes does not matter, we have to accept the fact, that we are still a minority in this country and we cannot win. This is  a fact of life we must painfully accept.

Jessica’s fate is the same as the fate of our community. Just like the equity bill that we are pushing for more than 20 years in the US Congress. All we get are accolades but no benefits or recognition for our World War II veterans and their survivors.

Even Japanese   American senator says “Filipinos are only good for the lump sum”.

Well, the American Idol says, Jessica is only good as a runner up. That is their verdict and we heard it loud and clear.

We now tell the, they must change the show into :White American idol” and not let any people of color join the contest. For them,  only white people are good singers anyways.

And don’t get me wrong. Don’t say we are just sour graping. First, there are no grapes in the Philippines and we love sour  food. We use vinegar as sour seasoning for adobo and other foods we served. We are use to sour things.

But what we cannot accept is  injustice and  uneven  play or a set-up like what American Idol did.

That’s what America did when they left the Philippines under three years of Japanese rule during the  Second World War. From 1942-1945.

50 years earlier they came to the Philippines they said they came to save the Philippines just to occupy it fought a war of pacification called the “Philippine Insurrection” from 1899-1916 and made it their first colony together with Cuba and Puerto Rico and all Spanish possessions like Guam and the Marianas.

That is what America is saying, that they will come to the aid of the Philippines  as stated in the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) against China if ever a shooting war erupts. But I doubt if they will keep their promise.

The (White) American Idol showed us the folly of believing  that America is “the land of equality” . We learned if the hard way after the result of the AI.

But Filipinos are made of hard stuff. A different kind of stuff. We will continue to struggle on and win. To hope against hope.

 If last night of 2012, America is not ready for an Asian American Idol, maybe there will come a time, when that idea has it time, it will come!

***********

Sa Liwanag ng Buwan

Tula

Mayo 6, 2012



Sa Liwanag ng Buwan




Nais kong abutin
ang bilog na bilog,
bagong buwan
Dahil ang larawan mo
ang aking
Nakikita.

Nais kong igapos ,
Hulihin ang iyong mga mata
Higupin ang bolang Kristal nito
Tulad ng malinamnam
na booba.

Nais kong pihitin
ang susi ng nakaraan
Upang ipinid ang lahat ng tabing,
Ikubli at itago ka
sa dilim ang buwan

Nais kong sipsipin,
matamis na nektar
Awayin ang bubuyog
ng iyong halakhak,
mataginting,
awit sa pandinig.

Nais kong sisirin
ang perlas sa kailaliman,
Hindi na umahon
at magising,
Malango
sa alak ng kaligayahan

At muling matutong
umawit,
humabi ng rima
sa gitna ng dilim
sa iyong nagkalat na liwanag.

ApG
6/6/12

"

Writing

Short Story
May 8, 2012


Writing


He wanted to be poet. He never wanted to be a writer.


But later he learned he had to write poems to be a poet and he needed to write. But he was never comfortable writing in another language rather than his native tongue-Tagalog.

So, when they offered elective subjects in high school, he chose Pilipino as an elective in journalism. He wrote poems and he put his heart on it.

Unluckily he had a journalism teacher who plays favorites. She never printed a single poem he wrote or article he has written. But everything that the two other classmate of his wrote, she published in the Pilipino high school newspaper.

But he was not discouraged. He played along even to the point of being mediocre and insulted.

But the last of his tether went off in his third year. He was running for valedictorian, the only chance that he can go to college for free. He cannot afford low grades even his electives. Those were counted and averaged.

So he made a hard choice. Even to the point that it hurt him, he dropped his Pilipino electives. He had to stop writing poems.

But true to the saying, a windows open when the door is closed on you,” One of his friends who was the incoming editor of the English school paper offered him a slot.

“ You are good in sport, you loved sports, why not write and be the sports reporter for our paper.” An offer he readily accepted.

He was a sports writer for a year and to his surprise, he was asked by their adviser to be the sports editor of their high school paper for the next year. And he liked it because it was an excuse for him to go and watch the games and be excused from his classes.

Later, when there was a need for articles, his friend who was the literary editor asked him;

“Bok, we need a filler, can you write something—a poem or an essay about any movie you have watched. A movie review of any movie you have watched.”

And he liked it. And they liked what he wrote. He writes as he writes.

But still he is not happy for he feels he cannot express what he feels in another language. He still yearns to write in Tagalog.

In college he stopped writing. Kept himself busy with school until he became involved with the Pilipino club. There he met the famous Pilipino poets and writers, both old and young and his passion for Pilipino was enflamed.

This time, when the First Quarter Storm came, he became an activist until he met an activist who was very instrumental to his being in the movement. He was recruiting him from high school until college and he became one of them. He asked him about something he can never forget.

“ You are a good speaker, why not write?”

“ I don’t have the gift for it. And besides, I just want to talk."

“If great people did not write, we will have nothing to read and discuss. Remember that. I know you love reading, then learn to love writing.”

“But you know I am an introvert. I don’t want to be like Alan Poe or Shelly who exposed themselves and their feelings. I am a private person.”

“Then write about the society. What change you want and convince people about the change you want to happen.” He was floored with that.

“ People will remember how good you speak. But they will remember you more if they can read what you write. We don't know, you might be another Mao or Lenin in the future. ”

He ended smiling, knowing that he will think about it.

His first try to write an essay in Pilipino. He joined an essay writing contest for the first time.

He was with his friends, all Pilipino writers and they were engaged in a bitter debate about the winner in that essay writing contest. He was surprised to find out they were the judges in that university wide contest.

“ I am still against declaring that writer the winner we do not know him.” Said one of his friends.

“ Well, that is why we will only know them by numbers. That is to avoid partisanship” one of his high school friends declared.

“ But what if he is not one of ours. If he is not an activist or an ND like us. It will be a shame if we let a no-activist win. ”. The older guy said. He was the son of a famous Pilipino poet.

“Hey”, he told them. “Can you tell me what is the title of the piece you are arguing.”

When they told him he laughed and said: “Don’t worry, It is I who wrote it.” And he laughed aloud.

“ Well, that settled the case, I knew it…the style was familiar. ” his high school friend laughed the loudest.

“We never knew you can write that well. Congratulations!” and they all hugged him.

Most of his life . he wrote in Pilipino and other dialects and very little in English. But every time he wrote he remembered him.

He still remembers his Pilipino teacher who rejected him and others who help and encourage him to write.

Yes, now he must have to write in English. For him, writing is not only a gift but a passion. He learned that one must have passion and love to write.

For him that is that is writing.


******

Short Story


May 10. 2012





A Fil-Am Friend





She was one of his first Filipino-American friends.





She happened to be one of his friends because she belongs to an activist organization in America. It was his first year in America and he did not know how to make friends with “Fil-Ams.”





But because they are in a movement (that’s what he thought), they are all “comrades” the way they are in the Philippines. Later he learned it in the hard way that friendship is different from comradeship. A friend is different from a comrade.





She was a daughter of a navy man. Her parents were both Filipinos. Later when he talked to her parents she was able to learn so many things he never learned from her. As usual you have to go to the roots to learn how the tree grew up.





The first thing she said to him was “ I am afraid I cannot hang out with you. I am not your age and we have different cultures.”





He answered, “ We don’t need to hang-out so often, our relations are political, remember we are comrades.”





All things changed when she went to the Philippines. Her attitude changed. But that was only for the short time. He recalled when they arrived from Seattle; she stomped out and left her father behind.





“ Very disrespectful. Well there goes, the spoiled brat” He said to himself as he just wiggled his head as he looked to the father running after her daughter at the arrival area. They did not even bother to looked back and say bye to him.





He did not let it go and criticized her for her attitude.





When he talked to the dad he learned many things. And he sized himself up and said: “ Maybe my daughters will also be like her because we both are always away from them.”





He hears out the old man’s lament: “ I did not choose to go to America . We are too poor. My parents were fishermen and we have to look for our future. I don't want to be a fisherman for the rest of my life.





I joined the navy and I rarely see her. I blamed myself for what she is now. She is looking for a country that I left behind and she blamed me.” The old man said.





“Just promised me one thing. That she will not change her citizenship. I fear for her life.” The told man repeated that until they dropped him to the train station.





Their relationship was purely political. They argue a lot especially on issues and some of her side activities. Until one day, she called him, DAD”





“Oh my god, I can’t believe I called you that.”





“What” he was surprised.





“I cant’ believe I called you dad! I did not mean it. That’s what I do when we argue , my dad and me about something.” He looked at her with surprise and amazement.





She was very apologetic. Thinking maybe he will be offended. That she was being ageist (a term he did not know by then). Or she feels she disrespected him because he was older or too old?





He just laughed and said. “ No problem, that’s nothing.”





And that’s only the start.





Another time they were arguing, he got piqued he walked out on her. And he was jolted when he felt a shove over his pack. She was so angry that she hit him at the back. He just looked back at her and with angry eyes; he left hurriedly without even looking.





He understood her more when he talked to her mother. That is one time when they visited her house when she was away in the Philippines.





" Her dad was always away. You know the life of a US Navy man. That is why when he comes home and try impose his discipline in the house I always remind him that he has been away and he does not know his children. So he must rest and just keep quiet and enjoy the company of his children.





My girl, she was an achiever. She played basketball even I told her not. Oh, if you just see how she played, even when those Black girls in her high school play dirty, clawing her face and her eyes, she kept on playing. She was intrepid" her mom proudly told us





" The only thing i always remind her is she is too loyal to her friends. That is why she suffers for her friends. And that is not good. I've been telling her it time to love yourself."





He believes it, she is extremely loyal. One of the pitfalls he saw in her. But cannot correct and never tried to corrct. He told himself: "Let her figure it out for herself."





But honestly he enjoyed being with her because he learned many things from his Fill-Am friend.





And a smile on his lips will always be seen, when he remembered her.





*********

Poem
May 12, 2012

Tiring?

1.

I am tired of loving people,
Who don’t love me,
I am tired of caring for people,
Who doesn’t care,
I am tired of fighting for people,
Who don’t want to struggle,
Who betrays me,
Who cheated on me,
Who tried to sell me,
Who don’t want to free,
Yet I have to be with them,
Still love them, care for them,
They who made cry,
They who laughed at me,
They who rejoiced when I failed,
They who never cared
And used me
I thank thee
For you made me
Strong;
And stronger
Than ever.

2.

They who gave me food
Instead of feeding themselves
And their love ones;
They who gave their lives
For me and chose to die
Without saying any word
And never betrayed me
To their last breath;
They who were
my mothers and fathers,
who gave me home
their homes as my own,
Who nursed me back to life,
Who carried me through,
They who prayed and laughed
With me,
Played their music,
Their gongs and drums
To their hearts and war beats;
They who died for me

3.

For they are my people;
I will fight for them;
I have to,
And I will..

Apg
May 12, 2012

"