Allusions to motherland

Filipinos love to copy anything imported, anything made in, breathe in, and done in the U.S.A. The love of the motherland has not limits. It needs no reason. It's just, natural. There's no arguing who should be Philippines Motherland is.

It's just lately that I've realized how Americanized I am. It didn't take much analysis or introspection, I just observed. There's just so many things alluded to something American. I would partly have my father to blame too, who spent his first 20 years of employment in a U.S. embassy. It doesn't take a genius to reckon the serious effect that work experience has had to his propensity to think, well, American. To teach, compare, and allude to anything better or correct. When I say better or correct, it is not Filipino, it's usually American.

Philippine president Aquino's run for presidency was an allusion to then newly elected Barack Obama. Aquino's run for presidency echoed the same clamor for change and hope for the future. A change that is yet to be seen, a hope that is yet to be felt for Filipinos. The copying did not come as offensive or faulty, in fact, it was as welcome as a breath of fresh air. If any, it was a proof that Aquino, was paying attention to world events, and was exact in referencing Obama in our own little plight for national deliverance.

Lately too I've seen PBA commentators tackle the recent trade of top elite BPA players between teams. Surprisingly, it came as a surprise to me, knowing that I've never seen PBA teams attempt such significant release of players, much more to actually doing it. Again, it is an allusion to USA's own NBA of course, which have had it's own million dollar trades between overly paid NBA superstars. Between million dollar teams which are getting more costly than ever.

The only difference between these PBA transactions and NBA's, is that the latter had more options, more reasons (they actually thought about it), and definitely tons more of money. PBA teams had no reason to let go of their elite players. Moving the superstars around the league, would have very little impact on any team's popularity, much so to PBA's popularity as a tv show. Even the player's popularity may be badly hurt.

In fact, it could dismantle whatever solid fan base they've had in the past. San Miguel Beermen is not a city of beer, it's a company. A fan's only reference or inclination for support is it's winning-ablity and it's player's showmanship- meaning, whatever reason you have. But then again, the NBA did it, it is only cool that the PBA to do it as well.

Of course there's a myriad of examples, these are just two. It is acceptable for us to allude to everything American because like in literature, perhaps whatever we have at home is better off as a fictional counterpart of the better reality that is in the U.S of A, than what is truly original to us. We are excused to allude because it is only fleeting, a passing allusion to an American idea, fad or even a belief. It is only in passing that we copy, because maybe we are still in grasping terms with what we believe is truly ours, and hope that someday it will be okay to be original.

The sad thing about it is that whenever I think of something truly Filipino, which is not in any way tainted by foreign influence. The first thing in mind is Willing Willie the game show. Now, that's saying something.