Unlike Middle Earth

(Notes intended to be published 6 October 2016.)

Like Middle Earth and Encantadia, October has come to LABELandia Philippines (PI).  PI is an archipelago where loyalists, yellowtards, yellow zombies, trolls and other political creatures live in disunity and constant bashing. These creatures originated from a race with brown complexion and a flat nose improved not by surgery but by intermarriages with the Caucasian race. 

Yes, these people are the Southeast Asian Indios or Pinoys from the Philippines or Philippine Islands.  Why termed the country LABELandia? Well, many Pinoys experience transformation (metamorphosis in science) when they directly or indirectly involve themselves in politics.  Their behaviors range from the normal to the extreme (even supernatural or cosmic).  A Pinoy could even become GOD The Father, Christ or lucifer when filing his candidacy.

By nature, Pinoys are very loyal.  With a simple act of generosity, a Pinoy could return the favor via lifetime of support (repayment of personal debt or "utang na loob" in the vernacular).  He becomes selfless by offering his services and meager resources to another person.  With such virtue (or eventual weakness), the Pinoy has been used, abused and exploited  by these political monsters, er politicians.

Due to extreme loyalty and being blindsided as a result, many Pinoys lose their sense of right or wrong.  Sadly, in a political issue, they choose to side with the politician who they support.  Instead of choosing the position which benefits the nation, their biases override their decisions and lead them to  side with the politicians they like.  (Politics of Personalities than Issues).  This decision making process is NOT a result of stupidity rather of being stubborn.

In every political issue, Pinoys have become polarized.  Depending on the politician being supported, their individual views have been made narrow by adopting a pro or anti stance. Thus, if you do not AGREE with them (politician and his minions ,er, supporters), then you are AGAINST them. Worse, this mentality has not been maintained at the ISSUES level but elevated to a PERSONAL one.

At this level, bashing and bullying cases start.   Proofs of such cases can be seen in various comments of social media posts made recently.  Many lack the maturity to accept the stand of another individual.  Imagine, relationships (family and friends) have been strained by the recent elections and current political issues.

For the unfamiliar about the diversity of political opinions in PI, below are the main labels attached to the politicized Pinoys.  Of course, there are independent-minded Pinoys and those who dread to be associated with the labels below.

During the EDSA1 revolution and forward, those who support the deposed dictator are referred to as Marcos Loyalists.  Most of these Pinoys have extended their support to the late President's son Bongbong Marcos during the 2016 Vice-Presidential elections.  From the Loyalists, Pinoys who collaborated with the late President Cory Aquino were termed "Balimbings".

In the Snap Elections of 1980s, supporters of widow-in-yellow who became the first woman Philippine President came into existence.  The "Coryists" (coined after the endearing address of President Corazon 'Cory' Aquino) would likewise extend their support to her son President Noynoy Aquino.  With social media, the previous President's supporters earned such nasty labels Yellowtards (short form of Yellow Retards) and/or Yellow Zombies.  The color yellow referring to the signature colors of both mother and son Aquino Presidents.  

Proving that surprises (even miracles) occur in Philippine politics, the Trolls were the moving force that brought about 'Change' in the Philippine government.  Current President Rodrigo Duterte survived a very late negative campaigning by the previous administration camp.   Thus, a look at Philippine social media posts nowadays would still show confrontation between Trolls  and  Yellowtards/Zombies.  

If you are thinking that political divisions will stop here, then you are quite wrong.  As long as Philippine democracy is alive, the divisions will expand.  Pinoys are not rigid in their choices.   A mutation can occur even with a Loyalist and a Yellowtard in the future.

****************************   THEN COVID-19 ARRIVED. ****************************

It is 2022 now and an election year.  The pandemic seemed to tame political and electoral maneuvers.  At this point, the yellow camp has been orphaned with the death of former President Noynoy Aquino. Former EDSA2 ally and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has endorsed Bongbong Marcos for the top job.  After three decades, the loyalist camp is ready to take political leadership and governance. As one political aspirant considers this event would make the Philippines a lost cause, this point of view will definitely be rebutted by the loyalist camp.  

One thing is definite. The Philippines is a DEMOCRACY.  In a democracy, people can make a mistake during the election. However, they can always correct (even at a high cost) their mistake in the next election.  Again, the view of political error or mistake is relative to which label one belongs to. Finally, this blog will not end with the reminder "Vote Wisely".  As previously mentioned, many Pinoys are NOT stupid and are only stubborn.  Instead, we say - Just VOTE.

Spotting a Pinoy - "You Must Be A Filipino?"

For some, all Asians look the same.  However, there are certain traits which are distinctly Pinoy.


Shopping

A department store sales personnel in Frankfurt, Germany was not able to restrain herself from asking "You must be a Filipino?" back in 1988.   I responded in the affirmative and she justified her observation by saying that I was buying several things and referring to my written cheat list (Kodigo). 

She added that I must be flying back to the Philippines and was buying presents (Pasalubong) for my loved ones.  When I spoke, her initial impression was that I came from the US until I started reading from my list and was purchasing the gift items.  It is very typical for Pinoys to buy presents in batches and at the last minute or just beating the deadline. 

Aside from batch purchases,  Pinoys love sales promotions (promos) and discounts.  They would not pass by a "Buy Something, Take  Something" promo or a "Buy Something, Get A Free Gift" offer.  Pinoys also love the "rewards points"  scheme where you earn points which can be redeemed later for a free item.

If possible, a Pinoy will ask for an item's "last selling price".  Elder Pinoys would even query sales personnel from established department stores whether the item's displayed selling price is the final (lowest) selling price or not.  An unsure response would prompt them to haggle for the lowest selling price.

Communication

Pinoys have complex communication skills.   What you see/hear is NOT what you always get.  Because Pinoys are 'sooooo'  polite,  they would not immediately inform you that they did not understand what you have just said.   It is not unusual for a Pinoy to ask the person beside him "what did the speaker say?"  (Ano daw yun?)  Some would even just smile and make a blank stare.  

This happens often when the foreigner speaks in an unfamiliar accent.  Pinoys are used to American accent.  Pinoys are more comfortable to reply in slang than to give a formal answer.  Filipinos speak English phrases or quotes often but for many, full conversation in English is a mental twister ("Duduguin ka.").

It is also not strange for a Filipino to make a facial expression or do a body movement when you talk to them.  Body movements include scratching of the head when there is difficulty in understanding the speaker or when the speaker requests something difficult for them to give.  Even for such request, a Pinoy may not give an outright no or rejection.

More common in Pinays (Filipino Women) is the use of their eyes and eyebrow to express doubt - stink eye or raised eyebrow ('Itaas ang kilay').  Another verbal reaction when in doubt is "Nek nek mo" or putting the finger in the neck.  

In the late 1970s,  when a Pinoy is left with no alternative, he/she replies "Magapatuka na lang ako sa ahas" (I'll just have myself be bitten by a snake).  So, exaggerated replies are not strange to be heard from a Pinoy.

Tone of the voice matters too.   The loudness, pitch, speed and manner of the reply could indicate the Pinoy's proximity or relation to the addressee.   Pinoys are a bit expressive in their verbal communication.  A simple query "What is it?"  can be delivered in an endearing ('Malambing") or irritated manner depending whether they are pleased with the addressee or not.  

One word can be a reply or a question.  An example is an elevator encounter - asking if the lift is going down  (vernacular question - "Bababa?")  or just a reply by the elevator operator ("Bababa.").

Aside from manner and intent,  the tone reflects the Pinoy's emotional state.  If you are sensitive enough, you can sense happiness or loneliness when talking to Pinoys.  You can feel the Pinoy's emotion when he/she talks.  The "Insulares Pinoys" (my term for Pinoys born and raised in the Philippine Islands) were not brought up to be cold, distant and objective.  Pinoys in the islands were raised to be warm, friendly, accommodating and polite.  Thus, a Pinoy sounds different or unusual when he is under the weather.   

Gestures  and Intimacy

Pinoys are not really touchy.  They are also not distant.  They do not mind a person being close to them provided the person does not have halitosis (bad breath) and/or unpleasant body odor (Baktol).  

When you travel in the Philippines, it is not unusual to see two females hold hands.  It is also not unusual to have one male place his arm on the shoulder of another male.  These show friendship or familiarity between individuals of same sex.    The reverse of these - two men holding hands or a woman placing her arm over the shoulder of another woman connote a different meaning.

Pinoys are still conservative as far as public display of affection (PDA) is concerned.   You would seldom witness a passionate kiss in public.  During the 1960s and 1970s,  PDAs are only done in a dark movie house with very few viewers or isolated areas in parks during twilight.

Travel

In the Philippines, the Departure area is congested.  In the past, it is not strange to see an outbound Pinoy escorted by the whole village and a jeep full of well wishers.  This shows the close-knit family or community where the traveler belongs to. 

In flight terminals abroad,  Pinoys are easy to spot especially during December.  Pinoys spending holidays in the Philippines are likely to have several hand carry and shopping bags.  Pinoys would prefer to be generous than practical during the holidays,  The Filipinos' generosity is caused by their desire to be like children at heart and to have a positive outlook in life.

Food

Noodles mark the birth celebration of Pinoys.  Asian noodles (Pancit Bihon) dish represents long life and is a "must have" dish during birthday occasion.  For kids, it is already a tradition to serve Spaghetti - Filipino Style.   In Italy, spaghetti can just be sauteed tomatoes over noodles.    For the Pinoy, it MUST be more.  Spaghetti Pinoy style is sweet and a bit sour.  It is tomato sauce based with ground pork and pieces of tender juicy "hotdogs".     These cut sausages must also be RED in color.

Nowadays,  it is not strange to see Pinoys include the cheese in the sauce.  For some, they even add chicken liver in the spaghetti sauce.

Pinoy food has gained notoriety because of "Balut".  The boiled duck egg is just a delicacy which is not even a part of the regular dishes served during Pinoy celebrations.  If you are afraid of the duck's anatomy, I suggest you ask for "Penoy".  I am not aware of an official study when Pinoys eat Balut.  From my observation, Pinoys eat the delicacy once in awhile during late afternoon till the wee hours of the morning.

For breakfast, Pinoys have garlic fried rice "Sinangag" with fried salted dried fish (tuyo, daing or damggit), fried meat (beef tapa, pork tocino or longganisa) and/or fried egg.  Pinoys also eat bread during breakfast.  Eating Pandesal with fried egg or sausages is common.  If fried egg/meat is not available,  Pinoys just dip the Pandesal in a hot cup of coffee (must try is Barako brew).

To cut short this discussion on food,  the flagship of Pinoy dishes and which I personally witness as the Centerfold er, Centerpiece of Filipino culinary and gastronomical event is the LECHON or roasted pig.  Wherever you are, if you see any of the following on the buffet table - Adobo, Afritada, Pancit Bihon, Embutido, Hilabos na Hipon, Kare-kare with bagoong, Menudo, Mechado, Caldereta, Dinuguan, Bicol Express, Pancit Bihon, BBQ, Spaghetti, Morcon, steamed rice  - and LECHON in the middle of the table, then the host must be a Filipino!