A CULTURE OF MEDIOCRITY

The latest brouhaha surrounding The National Artists Awards is another low in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency. How she could bypass the other deserving artists and confer the awards on an undeserving person by the name of Carlo J. Caparas is evidence that she needs a lobotomy more than a boob job.

I have aired this to friends before and I will write about it now. We seem to have forgotten our ideals. We seem to be content with sub standards. I think it all started with Kuya Germs' That's Entertainment. What began as a showcase for talented teens (eg. Lea Salonga, uhm, yeah, Lea Salonga...uh...and...yeah the rest) morphed into a free-for-all, pa-cute, jologs-fest. Although the term jologs was not coined yet, it sums it up to a tee. The only requirements needed to be included in the show were a set of perfect dimples and the willingness to be an asswipe to Kuya Germs. Thus the cast of the show ballooned to more than my high school graduating class.

That's Entertainment and its penchant for mediocrity slowly crept into the national psyche. Gone were ideals of perfectionism, artistry, integrity and truth. We just toppled Marcos then, we were happy. We were free. The Arts in general was swept under our rugs for there were other concerns that needed immediate attention.

Because we tolerated mediocrity, the majority voted Erap. The president who was known for his unprofessional work ethic, lackadaisical approach to governance, penchant for amassing property, orgiastic drinking sessions in the palace, and gambling aboard The Presidential Yacht. Not to mention his womanizing. Erap has mistresses galore and we put him into the highest office. Bill Clinton has one lousy blowjob and the US Congress jumps on its feet to impeach him. Again, this demonstrates how low the Filipinos' standards have become.

Vestiges of this mentality is in Wowowee. Ditto most government offices and the incompetent people that claim to be public servants. Mediocrity is the first leg down the road to corruption because all morals are set aside in pursuit of what will eventually be ill-gotten wealth.

With Cory's death, we should again be reminded to aspire to achieve the ideals not only for ourselves but for the nation. Enough of 'pwede na yan' or 'bahala na'. How else could Mr. Caparas (and Cecille Guidote-Alvarez) have gotten the award if not through sheer palakasan. Kissing-ass breeds mediocrity. Or is it the other way around? It's a chicken and egg thing. If Mr. Caparas were a chicken, better to do as the highlanders do... pinikpikan. If he were an egg, he'd definitely be as rotten as PGMA.

It's time to raise the bar. It's time to raise our hands with the Laban sign and fight for everything Cory represented -- transparency, integrity, and honesty.

In the meantime, Mr. Caparas can join Kuya Germs every Saturday night, er, every Sunday morning. They can call their show "The Walang Tulugan Massacre... God Help The Two Of Us".

LONELY...I'M MISTER LONELY

After an exhilarating night out with the girlfriends (ok, it was just one girl and two gays) I decided to go to Malate for a nightcap. I chatted with the regulars, said hello to the waiters, smiled at the cigarette vendors... and found my usual seat outside by the entrance. I like al fresco evenings in Malate, especially after a downpour. Reminds me of Lingayen, Pangasinan... you know, bagoong of the fish variety.

Into my third gulp of cold, San Miguel Strong Ice, this kid, who I vaguely know but did recognize, comes over to buss me, I offer my cheek so as not to offend the zealous wannabe, after the perfunctory beso-beso, he asks in all contrived concern: "Why are you so lonely?"

Moi?! Lonely?!

Just because I go to a bar alone doesn't mean I'm lonely. Just because I don't hang-out with oodles of friends doesn't mean I'm lonely. Just because I prefer to bask in my thoughts than engage in small talk doesn't mean I'm lonely.

Loneliness is cluelessness. You, idiot! You don't know me from Adam to even presume I'm lonely. We've never met on a level for you to make any conclusion with regards to my emotional well being. You don't even have an iota of discernment to feel where I'm coming from, who I am, my thoughts, my feelings, my background.

Loneliness is trying to fit in when you're obviously a square peg in a puzzle of (well) rounded individuals. Get a life and the experience that comes with it, you dodo!

Loneliness is you in your skinny jeans (so last season), your over-lathered-with-hair-products hair, your fake laughter, your breath in bad need of mints. Your eagerness to belong. Anywhere.

Leave me in precious solitude with my cold beer as I contemplate being alone in fetid Manila.

Have you ever read Thoreau? No, wait, do you even know how to read?

Scram!

THE THREE DODOS OF THE APOCALYPSE

Imelda was on the news recently asking the government to give back her jewelry confiscated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government because they're hers and : "I'm poor. I have no money."

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo plans to run for Congress in 2010 according to close allies. Proof that she is stepping down as President to allay fears that she plans to stay put in Malacanang.

Joseph Estrada, emboldened by recent surveys that place him at the top of Presidentiables, is considering running for President if the opposition doesn't field one candidate.

Okay... now these three Dodos are taking Juan dela Cruz for a ride once again. They actually think so lowly of Filipinos. Ginagawa na naman tayong tanga!

Imelda, who was born poor, definitely did not inherit those jewelry, neither were they gifts from visiting dignitaries, and George Hamilton most certainly couldn't afford them. Tax payers' money spirited out during her orgiastic shopping sprees is how those items were purchased. Living Blue Ladies who chaperoned Madam in those trips can attest to that.

With the pardoning of Erap, Palparan, Jalosjos, Teehankee, etc. Imelda probably feels entitled to 'her' jewelry, and if you think how this gov't has been dispensing favors of late, it really isn't a long shot.

GMA actually believes she can win? Is she going to pull another 'Hello Garci'? How out of touch can she get? Don't her closest advisers tell her when enough is enough? Or does she want to just bask in driving everyday on the SCTEX chanting "This is the road that Gloria built". Or fly via the Diosdado Macapagal Airport singing "Papa can you hear me?" Papa must be turning in his grave!

Erap... egad! What to do about Erap? If Erap truly loves the Philippines, he should just be Citizen Erap. His two years in Malacanang saw the depreciation of the Peso. Now if I were a foreign investor, would I invest in a country whose former president was thrown out via People Power due to corruption, then prosecuted and sentenced and served time for such crimes only to be pardoned by the other 'questionable' president and then now running again? Hell no! I'd rather invest in India where people speak impeccable English albeit with an accent and Jai Ho my way to the bank with profits! Or I'd rather invest in China, even if they suppress Human Rights and monitor Google, at least they're serious with industry and manufacturing and give their people much needed jobs. Erap is not good news for the economy.

A(H1N1)?! Con-Ass?! Doomsday might just come for Filipinos via any one of the above!

JUNK FOOD AND TV

Was chatting online with a guy this afternoon, a slackavist in his late 20s, works in IT somewhere along Ortigas... the usual pleasantries...

He was 'aghast' (his own word) at how/why I've never watched a single episode of 'Desperate Housewives'. And I told him that I don't have a TV. A very long pause...

He comes back online and asks what I do instead of watching cable. And I told him I enjoy reading a lot and asked him what his favorite books were? Another long pause...

I ask him if he's ever read JD Salinger's 'Catcher In The Rye' and told him he should and that it's one of my favorite books of all time.

His reply: "I'll just wait for the movie version".

I GO OFF-LINE!