My Blog

There’s no business like show business. It has always been a struggle between sincerity and hypocrisy everytime I would watch actors and actresses being interviewed on the National Television,explaining their sides whenever they are involved in a particular issue. I must admit that there have been instances where I’d like to give in to their endless swear-it-all, and choose somebody from the opposing parties whom I can place my bet based on his or her credibility factor, with all those crocodile tears and whining just to get the attention and support of the televiewers. Like many other Filipinos, I also caught myself feasting on the daily gabfests seen on the boob tube.
Lately, one interesting “war of the nerves” that really trapped my attention was the rift between Boy Abunda and Dr. Vicky Belo. In an interview, the doctor of the stars said, “And I’d like to say, if you want to look like Boy Abunda, then go to Calayan. But if you want to look like Dingdong Dantes and Piolo Pascual, come to Belo.” It was meant to be a joke but when taken personally, it was a below the belt comment that was rather insulting on the part of the person she was referring to. Of course, the affronted Abunda retaliated with a compelling remark: “Matagal na panahon kaming nagsama ni Vicki. And Vicki, if you’re watching, alam mo na kahit kailan, kahit kailan, hindi ako namuhunan sa gandang panlabas. Alam mo, namuhunan ako sa lakas ng loob, sipag, tiyaga, at dasal. At Vicki, wala akong ilusyong maganda ako, wala akong ilusyon. Pero wala rin sinumang may karapatang manlait sa aking pagkatao.”
Now I see eyes rolling. Perhaps, you have also expressed your views on this matter and it is obvious that Boy Abunda got all the sympathy of the infuriated Filipinos, who have this penchant to side with those who are maligned and offended. We are so into this culture of the oppressed that we often hate those people, who inflict harm using sarcasm, degrading the very dignity of the human being by their slanderous verbal expressions and malevolent actions. But my point here is not so much on the fact that we are truly compassionate and patronizing people in this seemingly apathetic world, but on the sad reality of STEREOTYPING. This phenomenon is growing in the various parts of the world and it holds the principle that there’s no assurance in getting all the respect you ever wanted in life even if you are brilliant, righteous, and of good standing, for this kind of mindset will forever tarnish the ego of those who are struggling to find their place in the society. Stereotypes are nothing but prejudices based on external perceptions dictated by one’s culture, beliefs, traditions, languages and most importantly, media. It is quite sad to note that in stereotyping, we tend to equate the person’s worth in terms of preference and likeability, of how he or she would present himself or herself before the scrutinizing public. We have focused so much on aesthetics that we tend to forget the real and genuine measure of a man---the HEART. Thabo Mbeki, the former President of South Africa was recently quoted by British newspapers, as having lamented the stereotyping of blacks that he alleged was prevalent among the white citizens. According to Pres. Mbeki, whites view blacks as lazy, dumb and of a criminal disposition. He objected strongly to these stereotypes as unfair and not a true reflection of reality. But this is just one of the many mortifying attempts of stereotyping that is so prevalent even in the most progressive nations. If this will continue to happen in our society, our senses will forever be blinded by our own biases and discrimination. Time will come that what we see in front of the mirror, despite all the desirability and magnificence, could no longer contain the lies and insecurities inside our hearts. In the end, all knows a masquerade ball, where the attendees wear masks made of shams, in a great revelry of deception, propaganda and falsehood.
In the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, the voice of God was heard from the clouds, saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”. I believe that being adopted sons and daughters of God, we are also given the same assurance, and that we too deserved to be called, “beloved” because we are created in God’s image and likeness. Stereotyping is the exact anti-thesis of this enduring truth because it leads us to inequality and division rather than fellowship and communion.
Last night, I was able to watch the elimination of American Idol Season Eight. Alexander Wagner Truman, one of the aspiring hopefuls who belted his heart out before the judges, was asked by Ryan Seacrest on how he was able to manage the spiteful comments of Simon Cowell (who have been sneering at him since day one of his auditions, saying that he looks more like a cocker spaniel, that he has no personality and voice, that he can only be rated up to the scale of three, etc.) after his performance, telling him that he growled ridiculously and his attempt to kick the microphone was utterly stupid. But the young geek, unfazed by the harsh criticisms, won the hearts of the viewing public by saying that he only wanted to show people who he really is and he would rather lose the chance being himself than win it being somebody else. He didn’t make it to the top twelve but I’m pretty sure he will go home with much confidence in himself. For me it is an honest declaration of one’s desire not to be stereotyped.
It is only through the heart that one can see rightly. To hell with the stereotypes.