The 'Pinoy Pride' Dilemma

 

You know what? I have an issue with what we call as 'Pinoy Pride'. Especially on how we manifest it at times. And also how it is being showcased amidst the emergence and popularity of social media. It's like we're having an orgasm whenever an aspect of being Filipino is introduced in media and pop culture, no matter how minuscule it is. A Filipino won an international talent show? OMG, YAAAS! A popular series where a character spoke crooked Tagalog? #LoveThisShow! An international personality with 0.0000000001% Filipino blood?  Proud to be Pinoy! STAN this celeb!

Or how about every foreign content creator who creates a Filipino-related video (ate balut, visit a place in the Philippines, etc.)? Well, expect a hundred (or million) views with comment section flooded by remarks of Filipinos.

Don't get me wrong, I am proud whenever a Filipino or our culture is being showcased globally. But sometimes this can be a little bit... problematic.

Sometimes, this Pinoy Pride can be a little bit too much and can be toxic. And to top it all, the dilemma that comes with it: Are we really proud of their achievements or we are proud because they're just like us? Do we really put high regards to our identity or are we just vying for the attention of the world we live in?

What is Pinoy Pride?

Pinoy Pride or Filipino Pride is an exceptionalist outlook on being Filipino and is an expression of Filipino nationalism.

Pinoy pride is an assertion that the people and culture should promote the interests of the Philippines by developing and maintaining a national identity based on largely shared characteristics such as language, race, religion or political goals.

Thank you, Wikipedia.

Pinoy Pride is the emotion we felt for a fellowmen's achievements (as stated above). It's a shared elation as if we also achieved what they achieved. It's a good thing because somehow this is a manifestation of bayanihan or being united which is one Filipino core value (in my opinion).

But when does it become a problem?

1. Overbearing Pinoy Pride

This Pinoy Pride has given us a sense of... pride (?) as to who we are. But it also gave us an ego the size of Russia which can be overbearing. We thought we're good enough that we tend to overlook at things we can improve on. We easily get annoyed and become overly sensitive on criticisms that can make us better.

We also get easily offended by the slightest stereotypes and slurs that we are ready to grab our bolos and commit a bloody war.

Take this current Korean-Filipino drama that has taken the whole PH social media by storm. We've jumped on the issue without delving into a deeper context. We've become too much of a crybaby that we called out for a #CancelKorea stuff and "letting down their light stick and raising the flag proudly." (Yes this is the line you can read on Twitter) 

See the problem here? We've generalised that particular view as a general view.  We resort to fights and become overly sensitive rather than having a better discussion on the matter. What's worse is we are taking things seriously. Way too serious that it's a bit cringy. 

And this is not the only case. There are a lot of issues where we try to cancel out other if we felt the Pinoy Pride is being stained. Take every American sitcom/comedy that slightly discusses a social issue or stereotype in the Philippines and Filipinos started to threw fits of rage.

And isn't it a bit ironic that we call and cancel out people for being bigoted or racist yet we are also perpetrators of these actions? Quite hypocritical eh?

To be clear, I condone any forms of racism, slurs and stereotypes. But let's accept the fact that we cannot please everybody. There are people that will always get offended so we should stop walking on eggshells. Also, rather than being offended and cry out, why not take a look at it and think deeper and if the shoe fits, improve for the better. Also, we should avoid stooping down low to issues like this. Man up! We can do better than that.

2. Pinoy Pride When Convenient

Sometimes, we tend to use Pinoy Pride when it is convenient in a situation. When we feel like its cool. After that, we can throw it away in oblivion for no one to care. We say we are proud of being Filipino but at the same time, we say how much we hate being one. You can be critical to your country and love it but we cannot use it when we need it then throw it away once used.

3. The Two Faces of Pride

There are two kinds of pride: Authentic Pride and Hubristic Pride. Authentic Pride is when we are proud because of the achievement itself and Hubristic Pride wherein we take in pride because of association or something that we already have. And in the case of Pinoy Pride, it's the latter. We sometimes are proud of our fellows' achievement not because we share the same sentiment but because we are associated with them and in this case, our race.

Oftentimes we can take it a little bit far that we resort to biases. We often take it that some of our fellows' achievements are rooted in the fact that they are Filipinos. Manny Pacquaio won a fight? Ah because he's a Filipino. Charice Pempengco/Jake Zyrus became famous worldwide. Filipino roots. It's as if it is embarked on our Filipino genes that made them successful.

Why is that so? It's because we are so thirsty for validation and associating ourselves to them quenches this and makes us feel important as well. We feel like we are also known and we take pride in that.

But please stop this. Manny Pacquaio won his fights because he trained hard for it. It's not because he's a Filipino, we are not inborn great athletes. Let's be honest, most of us cannot go past two plights of stairs without puking our innards out so associating Filipino genes with Olympian stamina is pretty far-fetched.

And let's admit that while Filipinos love to sing their hearts out, most of us are given a voice only fit for a bathroom opera, unlike Jake Zyrus. And out of these talented individuals, only a few are discovered and paved a career. So it's talent plus a sprinkle of luck.

So let's stop associating everything that our fellow achieved is because they are born Filipinos.

Remember that the circumstances of our birth do not affect our success.

4. The Roots of Pinoy Pride and the Rise of Pinoy Baiting

And since we are on the topic of validation, this is an unpopular opinion. I realised that our Pinoy Pride stems from the fact that we are thirsty for the validation of others, especially from foreigners. We have a serious case of self-esteem and inferiority complex on a national scale. 

Why is that? It may be historically rooted to the fact we have been vanquished and ruled over by foreigners that we developed this complex of insecurity. It makes us feel small and we inherited it through time. We feel like we are not taken seriously globally and when a representative takes centerstage that uplifts our spirits and makes us feel validated.

I really don't know the roots of this. All I know is we want to impress an international audience because we want them to make us feel special. Make us feel we are important. We want them to care and notice us.

And this is the rise of our Pinoy Pride. Celebrating achievements that makes us feel important.

And with this mentality comes a new form of marketing strategy.

With the emergence of social media and vlogging or video blogging, you will see a lot of foreign content creators or "vloggers" who features content that tackles Filipino. You will see a lot of video of foreigners visiting and reacting to scenic spots, eating Jollibee, balut, adobo etc., going to malls and a lot more. And since it's a Filipino reference, it gained traction and gained a cult following amongst the Filipinos

At first, I was elated because it's nice to introduce our culture to a global scale. But at some point, as more vid goes by and more creators follow suit, the line of appreciation has gone blurry. You cannot discern if the appreciation is authentic anymore. There has been an unsettling feeling that somehow, some creators just do for them to be flacked with views and subscribers. And this is what is called Pinoy Baiting.

This is a marketing tactic targeted at Filipinos. They will create Filipino content, exaggerate it and voila, instant views and subscribers. This is proven effective because as I say, we have that global thirst for validation. We just one to be cooed that we are the best in every aspect and these creators feed us with this for views and subscribers. Sympathy through insincerity.

I do not condemn and generalise all content creators, but as a piece of advice, please do not use us just so you could achieve your agenda and have revenue. If you really are into discovering our culture, create an in-depth video that tackles our culture and be immersed with it and the people. Not that another reaction video that has been made a thousand times.

And for us Filipinos, a little enlightenment. Please stop asking for validation. We can be proud without asking for it and that's ok. Its time for us to not give a fuck to others and care for ourselves. Let's not use 'Pinoy Pride' as a tool that makes us cool and important.

Conclusion

'Pinoy Pride' is hit-or-miss in the current narrative. It can be good at some context but TOTALLY TOXIC in another context. I still have issues with it that are not yet settled. I may come out as an elitist in this post but believe me, I love my country and I can love it without the validation of someone else. Let's be like that.