Vanity: A Sin or a Social Image
The Papal
visit is, most likely, the first notable event that will take place in the
Philippines. In spite of its divine and religious nature; a few Filipino
idiosyncrasies will inconspicuously be carried out; presenting something that
shall seem grand while using methods which are ignoble.
“It’s
not all the time.”
When a
special or important personality, or even relation, who rarely pays a visit,
does so; a Filipino mentality would be to justify the extravagant expenditures
for the upcoming event as a “rarity”. And because it is that; they do not see
any reason to think twice about intemperance. (‘It’s not every time the boss
comes over to dine with us.’; ‘The guys from the team rarely get together, and
in my place this time.’; ‘Marge, the Reverend Lovejoy doesn’t do house visits
all the time!’; so it’s okay to waste our budget once in a while).
So come
the Papal visit, the government officials will not think twice about utilizing
the national budget and public funds to impress the entourage of the Holy
Father. They will waste money on gunpowder for gun salutes; spend on audacious
delicacies and entrées; and anything that is a waste of assets in order to
create an image that will conceal the mediocre; or simply image of the country.
‘The
kids and the dogs’
During
special occasions, a couple who is expecting a revered individual to enter
their home would make sure that their children will be lectured, intimidated,
or conned into behaving in the appropriate manner; and making sure any of their
household pets shall appear adorable and not out of place.
Come the
visit of the Vicar of Christ in the Philippines; there are schedules in his
itinerary which will require his presence in certain designated venues.
Authorized personnel will then have to make certain that the enthusiastic
crowds maintain peace and order as they see it an exigency for them to take
part in the state affair; and that no dissenters may be allowed to express
their comments/views contrary to the collective ambience. In order to do such;
the authorities will have to set out employees of the Philippine National
Police and the MMDA who do not have beer bellies or have physical appearances
that suggests incompetence with their performances.
Sweeping
Under the Rug
The
quickest way to make a venue appear spic and span is to ‘sweep the dirt under
the rug’. This creates a deception which suggests that one, or a few areas, of
the residency is commendable-only those which are certain to be put into focus;
and the other less relevant are left as untidy as they are.
The
streets and thoroughfares, which the Pope is sure to tread in order to fulfil
his scheduled Philippine odyssey, shall be attended to that these shall not
appear unpleasant or prove annoying to his sojourn. Roxas Boulevard , the
streets and side-roads of España, as well as the various paths leading to the
disaster area of Tacloban shall be rid of traffic, trash and other ‘eyesores’;
but no funds will be given out to tidy and renovate other sectors of the
country which are not concerned with the papal visit.
“Put
on your best dress, honey.”
As with most citizens of other countries;
the Filipinos also follow the trend of appearing fashionable and grand upon the
arrival of guests or attendance of social functions. Politicians and persons of
stature, especially those who are certain to enact hypocritical roles when
meeting the Pope in person, shall already be off to reputed fashion designers
as Rajo Laurel, Inno Sotto, or Monique Lhuiller before the arrival of the holy
party; getting garments customized for their physical features that they may
appear alluring and vainly noteworthy.
Yes. Let
the nationalistic ‘barong tagalogs’ and the ‘baro’t sayas’ conceal their true
unpatriotic personalities and hearts.
“Make
sure the neighbours can see.”
Another
reputed quality of the habitants of the Philippines is their ardour for
outdoing one another. This is the term usually called “patalbugan”. When festivities or special occasions take place;
they want to make sure that what they have in their possession, or what occurs
concerning them, is more ostentatious in comparison to that of their fellowmen.
And what better way is there to suggest that one’s neighbours are inferior,
except getting their attention? Since the Philippines is the most renowned, if
not the only, Christian country in Asia; the local media will surely allow
international networks around the world to receive videos and images of Pope
Francis’ social rounds of the country. It may have the intention of enhancing
his eminence’s image as a “Pope of the People”; but there is also the
undeniable, underlying intention of showing off to the world that such a
dignified person has decided to frequent the nation.
Filipinos
are commendable for their perseverance to uphold the slogan which announces
“It’s more fun in the Philippines” in order to swank a pretentious identity
which contradicts itself; and they may just inspire the Roman authorities to
move the Vatican to Manila in the process.
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