Pinoy Named CNN Hero of the Year

I was thinking about writing something about how tired I am of hearing news about Manny Pacquiao and everything (or everyone) he is getting himself into. But I thought that I would be contradicting myself by saying that he is getting over-rated and over-exposed; when writing about him, negative as it may be, would still be additional attention for him from me.

It’s a great thing Efren Penaflorida won the prestigious CNN Hero of the Year Award yesterday, because I found something better to put my attention on. I am impressed with Manny Pacquiao and his achievements, thankful as one of the Filipinos he always dedicates his fight to, but I personally has never been that moved by him. Same goes with the many other Pinoys who have currently made a name for themselves in the international spotlight; like Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, etc. Their popularity has indeed shed some positive attention to our country; but unlike Penaflorida, they didn’t do it through means of selfless service and noble goals.

Pempengco, Pineda, Pacquiao to me have nothing on Penaflorida (funny how their last names all start with a letter P, isn’t it?). They are all skilled and talented in their own rights, but they all bank on fame and fortune as means to inspire others.

Hearing about Penaflorida’s nomination in CNN Heroes, was around the same time everybody was clamoring about Pacquiao’s latest bout. As my fellow Filipinos ate up Manny’s self-proclaimed humility, bad singing, and his mother’s colorful way of aging gracefully; I decided to take part in something a bit more meaningful in my opinion. I made sure that I allotted at least five to ten minutes a day in the internet voting for Efren as many times as I can. I never expected him to win though; I kept watch at the competition who all seemed worthy of the title. I just wanted to seriously take part in supporting a Filipino I can truly and irrevocably be proud of.

I had heard about Penaflorida and his portable class before and thought great of it. I have always been a fan of the making a small difference principle, and had I been a bit younger and braver; I would’ve probably joined his organization. Less than a decade ago, I did some community work myself, as a story-teller to impoverished kids with my aunt. With cardboard drawings by my brother, stories of David and Goliath and Sleeping Beauty made those kids gawk at me, attentively, some with their mouths open. I was surprised at how hungry to learn those kids were, that I felt so appeased of being able to share a bit of  that to them. But even with the sense of fulfillment it brought, it is something I cannot do on a regular basis. I had my own selfish goals to attend to; friends to see, hobbies to work on, and dreams to fulfill. And that is another thing admirable about what Penaflorida and company is doing. It seems like something everybody can do, but when you seriously think it over, it isn’t as easy as it seems. There is nothing easy about giving up what you can have for yourself, doing something for others with nothing but a smile of thanks in return.

Efren Penaflorida and his Kariton Class; lower image, Penaflorida accepting his award

When I read that he had won Hero of the Year, I couldn’t help but smile. The last time I felt that proud to be a Filipino was when they ousted Joseph Estrada, and that was what, eight years ago? It also felt good to know that the world, especially Filipinos, still recognized selfless acts and ideals. For a while there, I thought my future children will have nothing but singers and boxers to study about in school.

I salute Efren Penaflorida more than the others because he showed the world that recognition can also be found not just in talent and strength but by benevolence as well. I salute him because what he chose to offer isn’t entertainment or greatness, he offered something you can use even though you have the singing prowess of a walrus or can’t (or won’t) throw a punch if your life depended on it – he on the other hand offered knowledge.

Meeting the Counterparts Part 2

Last week I was invited to have lunch with a group of Diplowives. I was, as always a bit hesitant, but opted go for two reasons.

One is that I thought I was invited to have a private dinner with one of the heads of a ladies group who also happened to be a very important lady here in Libya. I wasn’t really up to go socializing, but didn’t want to turn down her invitation, afraid that she might think of me snotty and disrespectful.

Even though I later found out that it was a group date, I still decided to go because I didn’t want to stay home and be saturated with news of Manny Pacquiao. I am proud of his victories as a Filipino, I just think that he is starting to get over-rated. Plus I hate, seeing his huge entourage composed of ass-kissing politicians and others who just want to get in on some exposure.

Anyway, the lunch was held in a villa outside Tripoli. I’ve never been to a villa before, and must admit that I never really thought of visiting one. I suppose I now have an idea what Elizabeth Bennet felt the first time she saw Mr. Darcy’s estate. It was like being in a Good Housekeeping magazine cover. The actual houses (emphasis on the plural) in the villa are placed after another drive-way, where I passed a mini-zoo, a tennis court and an orchard of oranges and tangerines.

I was the first to arrive and was greeted by the hostess. I had met her once before in a more formal gathering, but didn’t really got the chance to talk to her, except for the usual small-talk. When I arrived at her villa, I was surprised at how warm her welcome was. It was if she was welcoming a relative. After she kissed both my cheeks, she looked at me with a smile and asked me how I was, she held my hand and didn’t let go as she lead me inside. In another incident, the unavoidable how-young-I-was factor was mentioned, and when I told her I was only 25 years old, she heartily laughed and suddenly hugged me. I was taken aback, struck at her warmth towards someone she barely knows.

Eventually the other Diplowives arrived and we soon found ourselves having delicious Libyan meals. We had Shurba, warm Libyan soup for starters; their version of Libyan spinach Lasagna, with rice and meat wrapped in cabbage leaf, broiled chicken; and Ashura (I think its wheat, boiled with milk topped with pomegranates) for desert.

I found myself silent and contented to be a listener, as they exchanged views and tips on random things, from where to fly to next, to shopping tips, to where to get the best highlights here in Tripoli. All this they talked about transitioning from one language to another; I so envied how they would be speaking in French at one point, look to their right and change to Arabic for another.

The conversation wasn’t all light. They also talked about changes they’ve observed in Libya over the years that they have been here; how its development also brought some challenges like heavy traffic in key roads.

Like I said, I didn’t mind not talking because I knew that I was in a different kind of league. As I sat there and slowly soaked in everything they said, I admired how everything seemed so natural to them as if they’ve prepared for this all their lives. I wondered whether their being so wonderfully cosmopolitan was polished naturally as part of marrying a diplomat. I wondered if they were once like me; lost in translation amidst a group of fancy, trilingual, well-traveled women. Was this going to be my future? If it is, it wouldn’t be so bad at all.

After lunch, we were invited to take a tour of the villa in carriage.

 

 

 

Filipino Channel

I blame homesickness. Homesickness is the reason why JG and I recently subscribed to having TFC to watch on TV. For those who don’t know TFC (The Filipino Channel) is basically channels so we can be able to enjoy TV programs from back home.

TFC subscribers na kami

Most Filipinos moving to another country will make sure to get TFC as one of their top priorities, third to acquiring a TV, which is second to finding a place to live in. In the Philippines, television, as well as our local pop culture is a big part of everyone’s daily life. I can’t really recall anyone I know who doesn’t watch TV. Even the ones who don’t actually own one are still updated, courtesy of the one neighbor who has a wide living room window. We have shows for every part of the day; early morning magazine shows, morning cartoons and talk shows, noontime shows, afternoon soaps, the evening news, and the primetime specials. This is why even though we may move to another continent, it is vital to take the local channels with us.

JG and I however are unlike most Filipinos, yes we watch local TV back home but we are not its greatest fans. Sometimes I like to think that we are among its biggest critics. It is mostly due to our attitudes, JG and his often intellectual taste, and my too idealistic not to mention hopeless romantic thirst for a bit of witty poetry in Philippine shows. If you knew us well, you would often hear us making fun of celebrities and programs (from their concept to the smallest scene or segment).

A friend of mine, tired of hearing me go on and on about what I don’t like about our local shows, said to me, “If you don’t like it so much, why keep watching?” That friend of mine was absolutely right, but we probably won’t admit out loud, but, I particularly, enjoy it too. Every nonsensical dialogue, every cheesy scene, every intrigue (that by the way does not affect nor benefit my life in any way), every shallow and vain personality. In some subconscious level, I eat all up like the true Pinoy that I am. And it’s simply because it is a big part of my culture and who I am. Like an annoying uncle, that although you dislike is still family. It is my own and as they say – love your own.

And so, despite being the critical Filipinos that we are, JG and I opted to put having TFC in the bottom of our priorities. Like most Filipinos, the next thing we did after finding a house to live in here in Tripoli, was to make sure we had a badass flat screen to watch with. But we made do with the free channels the satellite on our roof can get signal from.

The satellite is another factor that led us to our decision. In the Philippines owning a satellite is sort of status symbol, you have one means that you are a big shot because you can afford to have 4000 channels to choose from. When we came here in Tripoli, every roof big or small had one. Imagine my excitement when the house that we moved into came with its own dish – 4000 channels at my fingertips. But as always in my life, there is always a catch. I had 4000 channels with only about ten that caters to the English speaking only… Whenever I think about this, Alanis Morissette starts to sing Ironic in my head.

And of course there is also the internet with the streaming and downloading techniques one can use.

But mostly, we decided not to subscribe to the Filipino channels, because of the notion that we can probably live without it anyway. Again, being that we “don’t admittedly” enjoy it as much anyway. And for the first three months I, particularly, was okay with the ten channels that I have. If nothing, it broadened my perspective of the world as I found myself now more aware of international issues and current events; plus it gave me a glimpse of different kinds of TV culture.

International Perspective

However, circumstances really have a way of forcing you to do things. Typhoon Ketsana (or Ondoy in the Philippines) hit Metro Manila. And in our worry to learn about home, news from the internet and snippets from CNN and BBC weren’t enough. JG’s mom, my MIL was also set to arrive here in Tripoli, and she isn’t much of an international viewer and preferred the local stations from back home. And the clincher of it all, JG is a huge fan of Philippine Basketball.  He could no longer take waiting for the streaming to buffer, causing him to watch his favorite players shoot the ball one slow frame at a time. And since he pays for everything, it was decided that the time for TFC has come.

PBA: the tipping factor

And honestly it isn’t so bad. I now find myself getting hooked in the overly dramatic primetime soaps, and JG gets his twice a week dose of basketball. Hottest thing these days is Manny Pacquiao’s mother, Mommy Dionisia and her quest to be the next big star.

Dionisia Pacquiao is the hottest thing in Philippine TV today

It’s still the same old shows, the same old Pinoy brand of entertainment, but it definitely makes us feel closer to home.