Yes, he is all over all kinds of Filipino media. But I want to ask this question. You nation of band wagon jumpers, why now? The simple answer is because CNN says so. We would have never recognized him on our own. What I find heroic about this man and the others I looked at in the CNN showcase was that the most important thing this guy teaches is HOW TO LEARN. Like the classic Biblical quote do not give a man a fish , teach him how to fish (which also shows you Jesus' take on vegetarianism). Give the man a fish and you feed them for a day, teach the man how to fish and you feed them for a lifetime. That is what I see to all those who make investment in youth.
After seeing all this token praise for him I decided to write about this. Then I saw this article. My simple question is if we did value learning and education before as a culture. Show me where.
I see this sudden shower of attention and campaigning very hypocritical and counter intuitive of our culture. Look at our noon time TV and tell me what do you learn from that?
Look at our prime time news and what do you learn from that? You know what I learn? News should be read with intonation similar to pro wrestling announcers.
Look at what local movies and prime time shows succeed and what shows are simply not produced and you can tell what the values of this society are. Jim Rohn says the marketplace is reality. If that is true look what succeeds in the market here. Nice reality huh?
Our reality does not value education or learning or even reading. Why change now?
I have to recall an anecdote. A while back we had a flash in the pan starlet called Belinda Bright. Like many show biz types , that is not her given name. Apparently she was given her stage surname by her director who saw her reading a book between takes. What I find fascinating is based on that story, reading a book qualifies as aberrant in the eyes of the culture and worthy of a nickname.
 I am not anti Filipino, I am anti dumb. Efren Peñaflorida is anti dumb. There are not many like him and they are obviously not celebrated. Unlike me, he goes out and educates. He is like the Bookmobile driver in South Park who has come to life teaching the magic of reading
Point being, we are celebrating an educator which is an admirable thing. It's just that we have never done it before. We celebrate morons. People who thumb their noses on education. We had a former president who released a joke book about himself with transposed polack jokes and it made him more popular. We don't celebrate intellectuals in this country, we reward, celebrate and elect imbeciles. You are welcome to disagree with me if I offend you but better yet identify somebody of substance that the man on the street relates to that does not fit the grim portrait of shallow values I am painting.
Let's list popular figures in this country. The people who capture the imagination of our countrymen:
 Joseph Erap Estrada
Richard Gomez
 Sharon Cuneta
 Willie Revillame
  Manny Pacquaio -
All the so called spokespersons/ endorsers for products that the advertisers crave.
Fernando Poe Jr.
 Tito, Vic and Joey
 Sex Bomb Dancers
 Rico Yan
 Richard Gutierrez
I can go to any bustling sidewalk in Metro Manila and everyone will know these guys.
Now tell me:
1) who am I missing ?
2) tell me one person in my list or yours who is valued by this culture for their intellect?
3) based on the people this society values, what do they learn from them?
4) If you put Efren Peñaflorida on that list, does he look out of place? Actually not fitting in that list is his strength.
A lot of the people on my list are barely literate . Even if they are, they barely show it.They don't inspire their followers to learn. Maybe the followers do not want to learn. And you tell me as a society we value people Efren Peñaflorida? We have not in the past.
I rest my case.
Ed
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091124-237986/Peafloridas-intl-triumph-indictment-of-RP-govts-failure
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive09/index.html
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/688/Why_Are_Our_Filipino_Newspapers_So_Dumb
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1004/The_Filipino_Cry_For_Attention
 | where are Sharon and Kris? hehehe! getting serious now, very good post. you made your point very well. i am glad that he's being recognized now, it's about time. with the list you've got there, please, gimme a break hehehe! you said it all anyway, will not add for now. thanks! be safe... |
| oooppppsss! sorry! sharon's in the list. i thought it's your friend, dough there hehehe! missed reading names...-_- |
| #1) I mentioned all the endorsers and Kris is included in spirit in that. #2) One thing I know from reading Kris' column before in Inquirer is she definitely reads. So she might have taken momentum away from the questions |
 | Go Willie! I think he would be nominated next year at the CNN thingie for being a hero of the Filipino masses, causing stampedes and all. |
| Is there CNN category for loss of life like Willie? |
| you think it will be such a tough fight between Willie and GMA?-_- |
|  you think it will be such a tough fight between Willie and GMA?-_-  in CNN? |
| wherever loss of life award will be given... |
| Wowwowwee or whatever is such a pathetic waste of airwaves. The show killed people because of poor marketing and logistics. And people STILL LOVE IT? We deserve an award for being so malleable |
| Definitions of malleable on the Web:
* ductile: easily influenced
* ductile: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out; "ductile copper"; "malleable metals such as gold"; "they soaked the leather to made it pliable"; "pliant molten glass"; "made of highly tensile steel alloy" |
| CNN should recognize me for teaching you guys |
| thanks, but i don't watch Willie and people on your list up there... sorry |
| thanks, but i don't watch Willie and people on your list up there... sorry a lot of people do. Nothing really wrong with it but just hammers home my point |
| maybe besides corruption that hinders the country's progress is first, education then maturity... |
| you give me the illusion that I actually know something |
| I only know about two things: life insurance and NFL football |
| i wish to know some more... never stop learning... and sharing... and making people happy-_- |
| i wish to know some more... never stop learning... and sharing... and making people happy-_- good, then you know why I am here. |
 | zyrie15 wrote on Nov 29, '09, edited on Nov 29, '09 wait ed. the late Rico Yan made it to your list? I'm not sure about that. I have a friend who likes him because she said he's unlike other artistas who are aware in helping other people... but I'm not truly sure about that.
now with Mr. Efren, good for him that he, unlike the country's 'hero' in boxing, knows when to give himself boundaries on the things he can do with his life. I wish him well in his future projects. just goes to show that not all of us if given the power, in his case, some sort of prestige, would be all megalomaniacs. It would be great it would be like if in his speech he'd say 'and oh. i am a normal civilian. i made a change without being a politician-- we all don't need to, and I'm a proof of that'. |
| zyrie15 wrote on Nov 29, '09, edited on Nov 29, '09 argh. i hate richard. he even used gandhi's line of 'be the change you want to see in the world'. i used to like that quote and he ruined it. also i don't see him being all humble when he helped cristine off of that roof back in undoy. all he did was be flashy showing up in a what, speedboat? yeah right. |
| there is something you don't know about Rico Yan though i'm sure you know the cause of his death but there's the real cause of it that cannot be disclosed because he was a role model right? i can share it to you but not here, we'll stop right here. with Richard, he could could have saved more by coming back despite the danger if he really wanted to... but the others were not included in his film... too bad |
| late Rico Yan made it to your list? he made my list because when he died I had no idea who he was but ABS CBN stopped even their news channel for his funeral. He was front page in Inquirer for I don't know how many days and one of the few topics that made the maids in the house even peek at the newspaper. |
| argh. i hate richard. I was living here about a year and I heard about some guy who wanted to stone Cardinal Sin's house. Richard Gomez. Then when the whole F4 thing / Meteor Garden was big and GMA or whatever had him host the special and he was such a suck up and trying to bask in their glory but then again that is just me. Who hates 99.9 % of pinoy show biz. I saw this because I was the only guy in the room. On a Sunday afternoon |
| i'm sure you know the cause of his death but there's the real cause of it that cannot be disclosed because he was a role model right? Even something like this is not reported. what's the point of believing what is in the news? |
| told you already about that and sorry about the englishing but i love the CRish... hehehe! |
| cause Cardinal Sin said something about Erap. Shows you the stripes of Richard Gomez |
| they themselves don't grow as 'artists' is because they are all like look at my little debate with a Charisse defender in the Doc Albert site. How she was saying Charisse was not gaya-gaya. Bottom line those songs were there before they were. Making something you are known for that is the hard part. And doing something hard is what make people great. |
| zyrie15 wrote on Dec 2, '09, edited on Dec 2, '09 look at my little debate with a Charisse defender in the Doc Albert site. i think i remember that girl. sometimes our liking for someone hinders our judgement... |
 | i agree with your view 100 times 100% . . . right now I can't stand our country anymore with its politics, showbusiness, the commercialism of Christmas (pure blasphemy) . . . you are so right assessing that Filipinos value imbeciles more than proper intellectual & moral values all because of money . . .
Efren Penaflorida hit the nail on the head directly when he endeavored to teach his fellowman "to learn how to fish" rather than "to get the fish given to him" . . . that's what we should have been doing all along to get ourselves out of this rathole that we dug for ourselves . . . I really can't stand anymore the kind of trash that we see on local TV these days . . .
I just got a membership in Fitness First here in SM north EDSA last week . . . i noticed that the TV in the men's locker room is showing ABS-CBN and got me thinking: if you endeavor to improve your physical health through regular exercise & diet, why do you pollute your mind with these mindless pointless programs we see on local TV??? everything they show & do on TV is contrary to what Efren Penaflorida is doing and what we should be doing . . .
I'll tell you something else and this will give you added ammunition for a potential new blog . . . there is this one teleserye on ABS-CBN, which unfortunately my mother who I love very much, called "May Bukas Pa" . . . I'm sorry but that program is a living breathing showcase of what is all that is wrong with our country . . . every single character from the lead character to the comic relief is indicative of what is absolutely wrong with our society & why we are going deeper & deeper into the mudpits of despair rather than pursuing to better ourselves . . . I consider our country to be a Fourth World country rather than Third World . . . Bangladesh is already forging ahead of us at the rate we are going with our stupidity . . . |
| Make sure she sees this blog , I will comment on the rest later. |
| yet she continues to support a network that continues to produce such moronic & idiotic programs with twisted values (wowowee & anything with kris aquino & boy abunda come to mind) . Hence the brutal reality of the real world. We all need to be productive and some of us have ideals . In a perfect world she will earn the same or more money in a place that encourages better values. She can always make her own situation ( like I tried to do once upon a time) but that entails risk. You and I know those shows exist in those forms because they bring in the advertisers. You have read my previous pieces on Willie R I assume? That is what the audience wants and that is what ABS CBN gives the audience. But hence my argument that the audience does not want or care about CNN hero Penaflorida. Willie and his ilk is what they value year in and year out. And this lack of thinking and education shows itself in the electorate and the elected. You want to win an election or you want a highly rated show on network TV then the lesson is loud and clear: appeal to the baduy demographic. Who the hell in their right mind calls themselves the Hulog nang Langit party? Who in the hell in their right mental capacity votes for anyone associated with something called Hulog nang Langit. Philippines!!??? Is anyone listening??!!??? As usual I appreciate your contribution to this thought and you definitely make me think some more. Which is more than I can say about local programming. |
| You do know that most of the names I listed in what our society values are linked to some of my old posts and to an old post of Doc. |
| Sex Bomb Dancers |
| hehehe! (don't tell anyone...) he is really sweet! the sweetest person i have ever met-_-
ooooppppsss! don't say anything... let's get serious again, kris aquino is one who asked Willie to run and as this election period heats up, much more crazier things will come up, just be strong and stick with your beliefs and trust. we have to help ourselves and believe to grow and prosper...we shouldn't be fooled by promises and smiles by people who has no relation to us... remember, one who is sincere does not give promises, he/ she will just do it because it is the right thing. |
| aw ed that's sweet. thanks! because you think. You will be surprised how much facebook you can see before you see someone who thinks. |
Comment deleted at the request of the author. | hehehe! (don't tell anyone...) he is really sweet! the sweetest person i have ever met-_- you met Willie? |
| he sucks! after what i've written at like 3 am in the morning... |
| My comment was a joke. Thanks for your kind words. |
Comment deleted at the request of the author. | i used to believe she is better than that. let's review:
1) endorser of products
2) family wrecker
3) drama queen (off camera)
4) loves attention
with every aspect I identify her credibility decreases |
| she has ADHD that's why... |
| her life is a reality show. Between Joey incident, Phillip incident, Belo incident , all the billboards, her own mag, Parents are historicla figures. Brother running for president. As Don Henley sang there is not enough pansin in the world. Imagine if she did not have those outlets what she would do for attention. |
| we saw it live how crazy she was with Joey Marquez. she didn't want Joey off her sight and always sits on his lap and a month later, the drama, crying on mom's shoulders live on national tv... |
| she's old enough to not be doing such kiddy things and this is the idol of millions , the Queen of All Media |
| because with Kris, it's either you like her or you hate her. you cannot be neutral about her. she knows what most people wanted... like the dramas she did live on tv, always a hit and well talked about |
 | Efren's case reminds me of one of you earlier blog entries about Pinoys becoming "proud" at a countrymen abroad but not necessarily in a good way.
Suddenly, his life gets showbizzy, becoming the talk of the town, a space dedicate to chakas gossip on the tabloids, politicos and showbiz bigwigs making "lapit" to share his space of fame.
I too am proud of him being CNN Hero of the Year but I applaud more of what made him garner such a recognition, first saw him he was featured in a magazine show a few years back. What he's known for doing is what the people with the money and power should have done long ago, to educate the masses and produce a generation that could lead our nation to a better future. Instead, millions if not billions of pesos are wasted, spending a mere trinkling on too few classrooms, too few grammatically correct books to read, and too few a salary to give to a qualified teacher, resulting to a generation who still loves Wapakman even he lost in an eletion or his movie every year gets bombed at the box office.
Hate to see also that Efren is suddenly being "owned" by either ABS or GMA especially whenever he guest on any of their talk show/news programs. imagine the networks' wartards fighting each other so they could get a piece of him. |
 | sir. every filipino i can swear my balls for it, knows, our national hero, THE Jose Rizal. |
| and very open in admitting he (Mr. Penaflorida) wants to court Angel Locsin. just wishing that he'll be the same CNN Hero after all... |
| sir. every filipino i can swear my balls for it, knows, our national hero, THE Jose Rizal. imagine if you will. Someone with the integrity and the brains , leadership and guts of Jose Rizal . But living in 2010. How would the Pinoys receive him? I know how they receive Richard Gomez , Erap and FPJ. And they have NONE of those qualities |
| our national hero, THE Jose Rizal. They know his name yes. But what about Jose Rizal have they internalized and at least looked for in other so called "heroes" or adopted in their personal lives? If you see that in society let me know. I sure do not. Our so called leaders are atrocious. What's worse is people admire them. You will see this in April. |
| What he's known for doing is what the people with the money and power should have done long ago, to educate the masses and produce a generation that could lead our nation to a better future. My point exactly. Help people build a value system which will translate into the community. Actually that's happening now just with the wrong values. How come no one questions Wapakman who does not even have a grade school diploma yet he puts his hat into the political ring time and time again. Does he even expect to govern when he has not made the effort to learn himself? |
| ang malansang isda sa mukha ng mga politiko natin ngayon. you said it. What example are we giving our children kung yan lang ang nakita nila. What's the message? To get ahead you have to be self centered and step on little people? People rarely have the values of helping their community and being unselfish and that is my point. The proper values. Erap, Richard Gomez etc do not have values you would want your kids to have. |
| Sex Bomb Dancers |
| This has been showing the last two months to educate voters on how to fill up their ballots, just not mentioned this to you because since it is the Sexbomb girls, you may not be interested but what a shock, you've given time to see and even shared, hehehe! Will you be happy to know that many people have been dancing to this ad thing and wish that they are learning as well? And even my sister in law is singing this to her daughter, Hanna and I feel like eeeeeewwwww! Hehehe! Getting rude again... Having said that, I wish voters will learn from this ad, not just the dancing, hehehe-_- |
| maybe that's why they made it that way... |
| Can Sexbomb do something for my Strategic Management |
| Pinky knows few of the Sexbomb girls and you can ask her, hehehe! |
| Can she introduce me ? Joke ! |
| Sure! hahaha! Pinky is showbiz and I remember she said that the only real person in local showbiz is Kris Aquino. I just didn't want to argue because that's her opinion and a lot of times in the past we did encounter Kris mostly in Starbucks and she always talked to us... Whatever! Hehehe! |
| You have sat down and talked to me. Now imagine the conversation if I sat down and talked to a Sexbomb Dancer. |
| Maybe i will blog that for a change, hehehe! That will be cute-_-
Finally, Gogs Faces The Sexbomb Girls! Hahaha! |
 | As devastating as it may seem, it is the truth. Filipinos has been manipulated. whoever tries to outsmart the corrupt, they try to put him down, and sadly, they succeed. |
| thanks. Mayumiyumei27. If you are truly interested in that process you mention, look up this word : hegemony.
Also I truly believe everything boils down to values. Our culture values certain things. What Mr. Penaflorida does is not one of them. Somebody in a different country valued it then all of a sudden we pretend to value it.
|
| yep found it, the perfect word which completely describes how the Philippine government is now... Question, since you posted this, what do you plan to do next? I just happened to watch rated "K" yesterday, and you know what? I laughed. They featured street children (our brothers "badjao"). As we all know, they have been driven away by the terrorists to other parts of mid philippines due to "still-on-going war" in the south. They stated, they dont have any food to eat on their recent residence -- I laughed -- What?? What is the government doing? Giving refuge to this people and not providing help for them to support themselves? -- that's why they tried to venture themselves to Manila. They had been living by jumping into jeepneys offering songs to the hearts of Filipinos and ask for their kindness to give out few coins for something to eat. they are 5 young men, and they get to earn P200.00 enough money to buy food for the day.
I was hoping that they would give something that would help this kids, I mean at least get them home and provide some budget or something that could help this kids earn better for themselves, or whatever.. Ile the saying that you have mentioned, well I guess they know a little about fishing, teach them better to catch bigger fish.
By the end of the interview and blah blah.. I can't help but laugh from disbelief. Korina Sanchez gave P1000, and boasted said that its a huge amount compared for what their earning everyday.
But I was thinking otherwise, "you're company gained a lot of ratings and "money" out of interest and advertisers. And yet you only give this much? I didn't she should give higher, she/they should've done better! I imagined that this kids could only use this for 5 days for food (I think they're wise enough to save it), and then they'll be back from what they're doing, out in the streets singing and begging for some coins for food and to live.
I figured " wow, Filipinos sure give what they are asked for"
the kids are asking for "barya"
Barya nga binigay ni Korina... o_O
And all I could do was nothing, sit there, watch,hope.. that a kind politician is watching the same thing and could come up with the same idea that I have, and offer better help... But no... For the past years they've been here, and yet it seems that the number of lost badjaos is endless, and this tribe stand helpless and ignored by the government.. It's really sad... No? |
| what I am going to do is a work in progress. You can see in this blog leading up to the election I tried to cut through the sentimentality that people substituted with logic. |
| oooppppsss! sorry! sharon's in the list. i thought it's your friend, dough there hehehe! missed reading names...-_- You mean dough is admired by the masa? |
| I just happened to watch rated "K" yesterday, and you know what? I laughed. |
| |
