Not Yet Sikat

Paolo Mendoza has a critique of the stereotyping of Lasallians and Atenistas that is happening at the Pinoy Big Brother house. I think it’s hilarious that Paolo Mendoza refers to Big Brother as “Kumag”, the “God-pretending gay dude”:

Cast-wise, in true stereotypical fashion, Big Brother chose people as perceived of their alma mater and not the ones best to wear their school colors. After all, it’s not a school competition …they’re just using the name.

The “Lethal Lasallite,” Josef, is your typical green archer. He’s cocky and insensitive, and he has that weird sense of entitlement to command, direct, and boss-around. This lack of civility isn’t something he’s consciously aware of. If you notice, LaSallian’s are sweet enough to ask you what’s wrong; they just don’t know it’s because of something they did. Task-wise, he will basically do anything you tell him without thinking.

Robi, Big Brother’s Atenean feels compelled to explain anything and everything from the details of Kumag’s tasks to why it is important, to what he learned in the process. My goodness! This guy has so much substance sometimes I wish he’d just shut up. His jokes are smart but corny and, I bet you, if he’s the typical Atenista, he too cant dance.

Continue reading Paolo’s full critique..

And while we’re at it, why don’t you read this exchange in a supermarket by a Lasallian who encounters a condescending woman:

Me: Ah, ganun po ba ma’am? Kasi po kami sa *bleep*, tinuturuan po kami maging humble. Mayabang po kami sa hard court at sa competitions, pero marunong po kami rumespeto ng aming mga kalaban. Pagkalabas po ng hard court, equals po ang tingin namin sa mga kalaro namin, hindi mga taong kakumpetensya. Kaya po sa totoong buhay, ganun din po kami. Tinuruan po kami ng *bleep* na maging mapagkumbaba at hindi maging mapagmataas at judgemental sa mga tao, anu man ang antas nila sa buhay. Siguro naman po, tinuturo din sa *toot* yun no? Kasi po kung hindi, kahiya hiya naman po iyon, mataas pa naman po ang turing ko sa paaralang iyon.

…

We tend to look low at our fellow Filipinos. We laugh at the mistakes of others, enjoying the downfall of our neighbors. And, with the case of the old lady, she acted in such a way that she offends people who are working hard to earn for a living. It was such a disgrace not only to her stature but to her alma mater. Her alma mater is no doubt one of the most respected institutions here in the Philippines. Not that I want to disgrace that school, but the old lady was wrong, kahit saang school pa siya manggaling. My point is just that we Filipinos should stick to the values our schools taught us. We carry on the lessons our schools taught us, but we tend to forget the values our school stands for. WE shouldn’t disgrace our schools, and stop the crab mentality.

Well said!