Archive for September, 2011

(Rejoinder to the previous entry)

A reader rightfully asked, “Where’s the outrage over F. Sionil Jose’s offensive article?”

A cursory search of reactions on Mr. Jose’s controversial article, “Why Filipinos are shallow,” shows a somewhat overwhelming number of favorable responses.  This is disturbing, yet at the same time expected: the response to the “mephitic anodyne” is an attempt at self-reflexivity bordering on self-mutilation.  It’s as if to say that we’re beyond redemption, much less saying that every allegation and accusation made in a public forum against the Filipino is only true because it hurts.

The reason why it eats at me is because it cringes upon Filipino cultures.

Ten years ago, the foundations of America – and the free world – were shaken by the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  After ten years and countless fronts in the Middle East later, America continues to mourn, in what can only be described as a protracted outpouring of national grief.

One would surmise that the wounds of America would have healed ten years after the tragedy.  It should be: Osama bin Laden is dead, Saddam Hussein has been executed, and the rest of the world has changed.  Under the Obama administration, the United States faces a new war far more dangerous and with more far-reaching consequences than terrorism and fundamentalist extremism.  Yet today America continues to spread the message of its victimization: one that cost countless lives in a war whose fundamentals are still being questioned.

For all intents and purposes of bias, I like the idea of having an ad man as the Tourism Secretary.  In Philippine advertising circles, no one has credentials like Ramon Jimenez.  True to form, Mon Jimenez says that the Philippines should be as easy to sell as Chickenjoy.  But before this is construed as a hectoring tirade against the idea of selling (on social media), this is more of an insighting exercise/mindfuck on how to sell.