don't read so much into the sweetness of others nor suddenly get turned off when things are a little less saccharine than you expect.
a matter of perceiving what is and what is not - but how to react when things get a little bit quirky or somehow more than meets the eye. But then how does one really know that it is more than what one sees?
Again, perceptions and mindset once it's all set can be a source of either joy or disappointment.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Quirky Tagalog words
Who would've thought that something admirable or probably respectful in a sense could sometimes (no, make that often) come across as an insult or some sort of discrimination or age classification (i.e. turning out judgmental)?
I'm talking about some Filipinos' penchant for the proverbial 'po, opo, ho, sa inyo (in addressing an apparently more senior person) which while supposedly intended to respect the person being addressed is sometimes indicative of a preconceived notion about others. In other words, some form of unintentional slur (not unlike gender or racial discrimination).
Case in point - there are some 'well-meaning' folks who perennially address others with 'po' or 'opo' as if it was written on the forehead of the person being referred to that he/she is older by more than a decade to that person who is talking. What is quite fascinating and at the same time insulting about this is when you look at the person speaking, he/she looks in fact much older than the one being addressed with a 'po' or 'opo'.
I'm not totally against such respectful address and it is quite prevalent especially among social classes when let's say a housemaid or a driver or someone belonging to a lower class that even if they are considerably older they address their 'señoritas' or young masters or mistresses or the boss with the ubiquitous 'po' or 'oho'. That is more a sign of deference for someone above you. I also don't like this particular practice as if you're demeaning yourself but it has become the norm.
But I'm talking about the different kind of speaking to somebody with that 'po' inserted into the conversation if there is no social class difference but just out of the mistaken notion of the one who is talking that he/she is much younger when in fact they look just the same age or even older. That is what gets me.
I don't know about you but that is just my thing. Now, at my age now I wouldn't mind being addressed as such IF (yes, that's a big if alright) the person addressing me is in his/her teens or probably the age of my nephews or nieces. That is generally expected. But I don't hide the fact that I get a little offended and tend to give the person a once-over if I was addressed with a 'po' by someone who appears and indeed is much older than me. I mean, hey, do I look like your aunt or mother? Just saying! I can tolerate that kind of address if I know I'm at least 10 years his/her senior but give or take a year or 5 yrs or so difference, that is not an excuse to just willfully and mindlessly blurt out the 'po, opo, sa inyo, kayo' artillery to someone. Get my drift?
See, the thing is while we complain about discrimination over gender, social class, race, etc some of us are judgmental in the sense that we are also discriminatory (consciously or unconsciously) when it comes to age. It's like a subtle way of putting yourself on the pedestal of 'youthful' appearance vs the one being addressed. Like categorically saying that the other person looks older while you look like in your teens. I for one do not make it a habit to talk to someone with a po or opo even if they are older by up to 10 years than me. Not mean to be disrespectful but in fact it's just my way of telling the other person that we're equal. That I am neither being irreverent nor am I trying to demean myself (as opposed to someone who says po or opo to someone belonging to a higher social status).
The Tagalog language it seems is kind of quirky in this sense by adding po or opo in a conversation which may signify reverence but on the downside can be perceived as a slight slur on someone's appearance or age for that matter.
So I hope that some people will realize that such words when added into the conversation doesn't hint on anybody's superiority or inferiority or seniority. At times, it can just be simply annoying so lay down a bit on that. okay 'po' ba??
I'm talking about some Filipinos' penchant for the proverbial 'po, opo, ho, sa inyo (in addressing an apparently more senior person) which while supposedly intended to respect the person being addressed is sometimes indicative of a preconceived notion about others. In other words, some form of unintentional slur (not unlike gender or racial discrimination).
Case in point - there are some 'well-meaning' folks who perennially address others with 'po' or 'opo' as if it was written on the forehead of the person being referred to that he/she is older by more than a decade to that person who is talking. What is quite fascinating and at the same time insulting about this is when you look at the person speaking, he/she looks in fact much older than the one being addressed with a 'po' or 'opo'.
I'm not totally against such respectful address and it is quite prevalent especially among social classes when let's say a housemaid or a driver or someone belonging to a lower class that even if they are considerably older they address their 'señoritas' or young masters or mistresses or the boss with the ubiquitous 'po' or 'oho'. That is more a sign of deference for someone above you. I also don't like this particular practice as if you're demeaning yourself but it has become the norm.
But I'm talking about the different kind of speaking to somebody with that 'po' inserted into the conversation if there is no social class difference but just out of the mistaken notion of the one who is talking that he/she is much younger when in fact they look just the same age or even older. That is what gets me.
I don't know about you but that is just my thing. Now, at my age now I wouldn't mind being addressed as such IF (yes, that's a big if alright) the person addressing me is in his/her teens or probably the age of my nephews or nieces. That is generally expected. But I don't hide the fact that I get a little offended and tend to give the person a once-over if I was addressed with a 'po' by someone who appears and indeed is much older than me. I mean, hey, do I look like your aunt or mother? Just saying! I can tolerate that kind of address if I know I'm at least 10 years his/her senior but give or take a year or 5 yrs or so difference, that is not an excuse to just willfully and mindlessly blurt out the 'po, opo, sa inyo, kayo' artillery to someone. Get my drift?
See, the thing is while we complain about discrimination over gender, social class, race, etc some of us are judgmental in the sense that we are also discriminatory (consciously or unconsciously) when it comes to age. It's like a subtle way of putting yourself on the pedestal of 'youthful' appearance vs the one being addressed. Like categorically saying that the other person looks older while you look like in your teens. I for one do not make it a habit to talk to someone with a po or opo even if they are older by up to 10 years than me. Not mean to be disrespectful but in fact it's just my way of telling the other person that we're equal. That I am neither being irreverent nor am I trying to demean myself (as opposed to someone who says po or opo to someone belonging to a higher social status).
The Tagalog language it seems is kind of quirky in this sense by adding po or opo in a conversation which may signify reverence but on the downside can be perceived as a slight slur on someone's appearance or age for that matter.
So I hope that some people will realize that such words when added into the conversation doesn't hint on anybody's superiority or inferiority or seniority. At times, it can just be simply annoying so lay down a bit on that. okay 'po' ba??
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Lend your Spirit to Lent
With the long break in observance of Lent here in the Philippines, it is always a good time to look back on the first few months of the year and see how far you've come towards your goals. Or how far you still need to go.. a moment of recollection but more a time for renewal. It also makes you think of what is more important - - to go on that swimming expedition, a visit to the local church, read the Bible, ponder on life's possibilities or simply just chill & relax tired & weary bones, muscles and brain.
It is vital however to think in terms of how you are going to use that extended weekend to appreciate the blessings you have been given and to refresh the mind on what the occasion is really all about - - a reconnection to your spirituality, the faith and gratitude to the One Supreme Being for whom we commemorate this holy week. Think of the Passion of Christ and forego your own simplistic & sometimes selfish passions towards earthly endeavors..just for a brief period.
It is vital however to think in terms of how you are going to use that extended weekend to appreciate the blessings you have been given and to refresh the mind on what the occasion is really all about - - a reconnection to your spirituality, the faith and gratitude to the One Supreme Being for whom we commemorate this holy week. Think of the Passion of Christ and forego your own simplistic & sometimes selfish passions towards earthly endeavors..just for a brief period.
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