D’Arvit!

I am quite aware that my “Merry Christmas” blog entry is long overdue, so there’s just no use writing about it. Other bloggers have either written about how frustrating the Christmas season’s commercialism is, or how over-the-top “political correctness” is, or how sad or happy their respective Christmas celebrations were.

There is no point to follow suit, so I guess let’s just get to the point now, shall we?

We drove to South Carolina this Christmas, and we visited Atlanta, Georgia, in the process. Dad loved Atlanta; I on the other hand is still clinging to ditzy, urban New York [I have yet to find a better city to win my affections ;)].

On Americans and Filipinos

Though I still think that most Americans I encounter in real life [those I rub elbows with online are mostly smart ones, though, so don't take offense, my American readers! :lol:] are quite stupid [hence, my famous quote, "Stupid Americans!"--Me], I do not classify myself as anti-American. There is just so much to love and hate in this country… It kind of reminds me of my own home, the Philippines, actually–the urban parts and the crappy government, at least. And oh, the Philippines is far superior when it comes to malls, shopping, nightlife, hardworking students, and natural ingenuity [sorry, that's what we get from being Third World]. I must say, however, that the people down south are really friendly too [well, most of them are]. People have been asking me if I have ever experienced some racism here, and yes, I have. I guess that’s one thing that this nation would be battling with for a long time. I mean, the segregations have ended only recently, and there is currently still evidence of hostility against immigrants [specifically, against the Latinos] and there are still strong stereotypes against Asians.

“Oh my gosh, you speak excellent English!” said the hairstylist who cut my hair a few weeks ago. “Did you have to learn it when you got here?”

“Thanks, but no, English is a major language in the Philippines. We have all been taught English in school, and we do speak English at home, too, ever since we were little kids.”

“Wow.”

I wanted to add how Filipinos value education, or how almost everyone in Manila is a professional, but I was afraid that I would sound too cocky and preachy. There would be more chances to break negative Filipino stereotypes, I thought.

I think that is the reason why I always make it a point to look better, be smarter, and work harder than everyone else. It is in becoming a positive example that somehow, these people would abandon the bad press and their pre-conceived notions, and see that we Filipinos could be so much more. I’m going to quote something I wrote in a forum a long time ago, that I hope my non-Filipino readers would read:

Yes, tourism isn’t as strong here. Bad press, I guess, has been a major factor why tourism isn’t really doing much for the country. [Screw Abu Sayyaf! Screw them!] There are many beautiful places in the Philippines.. 7,107 islands, and most of these islands have not yet been explored. Despite current tourism efforts, political problems have always been the focus of the government, which in turn, puts a damper on tourism.

The Philippines’ main exports are its people. More and more Filipinos leave their country’s shores in search of “greener pastures” aboad. At first, the country just started “exporting” cheap labor.. But lately, even the country’s best and brightest minds have been abandoning the country: teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, physical therapists, pharmacists, and other professionals… All the bright minds are leaving the country, no wonder our country is suffering. Ironically, due to dollar remittances brought back to the country, this “export” of people is the Philippines’ billion-dollar industry. It’s the very thing that supports our economy, at the moment.

That’s why I plan on returning there. My country needs me. ^_^

The reason why the Philippines is not as successful as its richer neighbors in Asia and the Pacific could not be easily explained. I was born and raised there, and until now, I have not found one clear-cut reason for my country’s hardships.

Could it be that the Philippines has been robbed off its dignity and self-worth because it has been colonized for 333+ years under Spain, and 50+ years under America? It is this “colonial mentality” that has plagued the Filipino people’s psyche. Most Filipinos do not believe in themselves, and national pride is always low.

Could it be because the country is very corrupt? It has not always been so. During the early 1960’s, under the leadership of then President Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines was the ranked number 2 after Japan, as Asia’s best economy. When President Marcos declared Martial Law and became Dictator, things have begun to go downhill after that.

I could launch into a very long discourse on the psychology of the Filipino mind, but I think I will start to bore you guys to death. My bottom line is: the Philippines is a beautiful country. It’s a pity that it’s misunderstood and mishandled. To quote illini319, yes, it’s a tragedy.

Neil Gaiman, Libba Bray, and an Open Letter to Eoin Colfer

After that all said and done, let’s jump to another topic. [This entry is starting to look like an Inquirer Lifestyle/Opinion column--a mash-up of different topics!]

I got myself a new Coach wallet and Stardust by Neil Gaiman for Christmas [a beautiful book! About time I got one for myself!]. As I was browsing around Neil Gaiman’s blog, I saw an entry about the upcoming Stardust movie.

Now this is what I love about Neil Gaiman: through his own blog, he lets fans take a glimpse of his work. From his many a “bloody”-laden rants, to book/movie/script news and random ramblings, he definitely has made it a point to be available to his fans, albeit on his blog. He has become more accessible, and actually, more real and human.

Speaking of human emotions in famous authors’ blogs, take a look at A Great and Terrible Beauty author Libba Bray, who has her own LJ account [complete with "Current Music", and "Current Mood" indicators, awesome]! It’s as real as it gets, which I find amazing! Here is an author who has gone to get her own LJ account just like any other regular human being. She updates it when she can, and when she does, her entries are what she really is: human.

With just rumours about the Artemis Fowl movie circling around the Net, I just made this open letter to Eoin Colfer out of the blue:

Dear Mr. Colfer,

Your books are awesome.
What is up with the movie?
Do put up a blog to keep us updated.
Surely, you do have a blog on the official UK Artemis Fowl site, but it would be cool if it were more personal and up-to-date.

Later,
Pam

PS: Sorry I stole your word and turned it into a blog. Please don’t sue me, ok?

Kidding! Of course I would never send him that letter! [But thanks to Google, he could probably find it if he practised the art of self-Googling™]

My point is, can’t he disclose just a little bit more on the status of the AF movie?
[Is there going to be one at all? Can you do a bit of name-dropping? Are there legal problems--is this the reason why everything has been so slow?]

What I love about the Neil Gaiman & Libba Bray is that they have willingly made themselves available to the fans by means of a simple online journal. It has benefitted them as much as it has made the fans extremely happy.

Would Colfer follow suit?