This morning, I wanted to add some nationalism to my blog post. There's this question in my mind that's been plaguing me for years, "who are the Filipino?", how can you genuinely state your heritage? You might think, "Reian you douche, a Filipino is a Filipino, the food, the culture etc." but no, the thing is that we are so diverse that a load of influences blend in. We are labeled as Manny Pacquiao's hometown people. Our culture is mostly overpowered when we move to a different country. I was born here and as I was growing up was raised in the States, there were so much influence coming from there that I really get absorbed. I came back barely knowing how to speak the native tongue, cousins who were living there barely knew any Tagalog words. I'm saying all this based on experience, before you react hear me out. 



First off, nowadays there are varieties of Filipinos around the world, there are Filipino-Americans, Filipino-Japanese, Filipino-Chinese and the list goes on. As a nation growing up, we have so many cultures weaving into our own. The Malays came, the Chinese came, the Spanish ruled, the Americans liberated, the Japanese occupied, the Koreans migrated (I could name so much more). There is such a mix in our culture that we forget to realize what is genuinely Filipino. One major example is our clothes, fashion is purely what defines a person at first glance, we don't have days when girls wear yukatas to watch fireworks like in Japan other than times we were required to at school during the "Buwan ng Wika" festivals. Our everyday attire is composed of western influence, our pop culture is westernized. You rarely see the president wear a Maria Clara to the Palace, or when meeting a foreign diplomat.

Here's my gripe, when immigrating to a new country the tendency of a typical Filipino is to adapt, naturally, hence we are labeled as nice people, awesome and hardworking with alot of Filipino spirit but no cultural influence. You rarely see a Filipino restaurant in the North West Coast or Filipino Fashion trending the global market however, you see Korean movies, Japanese Fashion and Chinese Cuisine all around. The only thing we were really able to produce is, scandals, distress signals, Lea Salonga and Manny Pacquiao. With these in mind I'm missing one massive contribution that the Filipino people gave to the world, People Power; The EDSA Revolution. I do admit that is a great feat, but in my humble opinion it was something that the nation took for granted. Now, when people are tired of the administration all they do is rally hoping for a change even if it was the candidate they voted for. I'll move along and save the EDSA rant for another post.

When does nationalism spark? During a calamity or when the media covers something? I remember someone telling me, "Pare lets repack goods BAYANIHAN NA TO'!" really? bayanihan because of Ondoy? When Pepeng hit the northern part of Luzon where was that "BAYANIHAN" you spoke of? One reason our cultural influence doesn't spread is because of the mentality we have, alot of people are hypocrites. I chose not to help because I don't need to, I donated. I chose not to care because I believe it is a lost cause. 100 people repack goods while ten people donate, yup you people actually think that wrapping up things in plastic bags is helping the environment. One other reason is that Filipinos are too nice. YEAH!! TOO NICE!! When people are too nice they tend to be all submissive. When people are too nice they tend to get absorbed into other cultures hence losing their culture. That's what I think...that's why I still ask all of you, who are the Filipino?

Well, folks I'm not the informant type but with the traffic this blog has been generating lately, I'm here to help whoever clicks on this blog.

This is Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) gaining strenght at a category 5 level. Wow, if there was a God he must've forgotten us a LONG time ago, either that or He must be PISSED. Anyways, it could be that the plot of Supernatural is real, damn you Sam Winchester!

Stay inside and in case you guys value your work instead of lives, good luck to ya! stock up and stay safe! happy huntin!


oh on a side note I added a new counter, a better one so view counts are back to zilch.

Natural disasters are a terrible thing, we all know that. Floods, storms, blizzards and fires don't choose, they don't care of your race, your education, your social status, or your religion. It's a given that there are hazards in this world and we have to fight them. We've gone to weary with a comfy life that we've forgot the basics of living; survival. I'm not choosing sides that "sinners deserve what happened" or that other guy from PEX that said "kasi tapon ng tapon kayo ng basura kung saan saan." and even that chick that stated "a de-selecting of individuals; only the fit should survive" (here's the link). Enough of that, no name calling no blaming, no one deserved this, no one is free from anything either.

August 2005,Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and made a massive flood, ruining an entire metropolis. September 2006 Typhoon Xangsane (Milenyo) and Typhoon Durian (Reming) hit the Philippines with destructive wind power and continuous rains. After taking a direct hit from Milenyo, parts of Manila were in ruins. There's a reason why storms are getting stronger and the floods are getting bigger. When you think about it; Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) was not that powerful in terms of rainfall and wind speed, Milenyo and Reming were category 4 storms Katrina was a category 5, Ondoy was merely a category 2 storm. Why would a weak storm like that cause such a massive flood? Think about the 3 past storms I've stated and how constantly year by year it gets stronger or has more water. There are so many changes in our climate, way too much if I do say so myself. Rainfall wasn't totally bad this weekend the problem is that dams released water and broke into the metro, which couldn't be helped. It's not about the drainage either, although water came down it can't stop too much water; overflow is bound to happen. Yes, trash everywhere could be a problem and so much lack of self discipline can make small rainfall into a flooding street but water was too overwhelming even for the best drainage system there are debris from floods too. The only difference that throwing away garbage at the proper locations can make is how fast the water can subside. The message I'm trying to portray that our world is deteriorating. If you watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" you'd realize this is a possibility. The sad truth is that it is only going to get worse. We need to step up and try to do our parts.

Captain Planet, if you grew up in the 90's had really pure intentions when it came to preserving our world, other than the AIDS episode, that was just wrong. The PSA's that the G.I JOE make after every episode isn't only for safety but for environmental purposes too. We saw this happening yet we, as inhabitants of our home were too ignorant to realize the mess we've made. A house if not properly maintained turns weak and ugly, a car without proper tune ups turns into junk, a body without proper nutrition is malnourished or obese, the same goes for the Earth. We cared too much about our comfort, our blogs, our buidings, our electronics to care for our trees, waters, mountains and animals. I know I'm at fault too doing so little, when I can do so much. No one is to blame, no one is at fault, there is still time to change the way we all live, being alot simpler than anyone is good in the long run. The camaraderie people have shown these past days are astonishing no social status involved, no one rich nor poor, people have dedicated their lives to rebuild what others have lost. It's really ironic that a tragedy is the only thing that can bring a nation together. For it may be a death of a president or a massive catastrophe. I just wish that this thinking would still be within us after a month or two have past, don't do this because your friends wanted to, don't help out because it is required in school, you're not a bad person if you don't help out no one is to judge you for that as long as you are being true it is fine. I just wish that helping others won't be a fashion statement but something from the heart. My name is Reian, and these are my thoughts.