ASIA'S GOT TALENT? FILIPINOS GOT TALENT!

The Philippines is endowed with creativity and artistry particularly in the performing arts. This is evident in the strong performances of four Filipino acts in the grand finale of “Asia’s Got Talent” out of a total of nine finalists from all over the region. As solo singers, Gwyneth Dorado (pop) and Gerphil Flores (classical) impressed the judges with their striking vocal chords; while group performers such as El Gamma Penumbra (shadow play act) and Junior New System (hip hop dancers) wowed the audience with their dazzling presentation and heart-thumping moves. 

There is just so much to be proud of for the Filipino artists who are carrying the Philippine flag in the world stage, or at least in Asia. This talent competition is an excellent platform to showcase a different image of Filipinos commonly seen as domestic helpers, unskilled laborers, drug traffickers, or desperate migrants looking for a better life. Thanks to the show, the world gets to witness the first-rate talent and amazing creativity that the Philippines can offer.  

While watching the Pinoy contestants perform during the competition, I realize so many things about us as Filipinos. I acknowledge that these are my own general observations subject for debate, though I believe that they are still worth noting.

1. Filipino local talent show rejects are world-class talents nonetheless.

        

Many of the exceptional Filipino acts competing in Asia’s Got Talent failed to win in the show’s local version. Some of them did not even make it to the semi finals of Pilipinas Got Talent. But fortunately, we now see them proudly representing the Philippines in the international stage.

Nobody personified a dramatic comeback better than Gerphil Flores. She was previously eliminated in Pilipinas Got Talent because, according to the judges, her operatic singing and classical tunes do not resonate to the Filipino audience. She got her vindication when David Foster praised her pitch perfect voice and elegant performance in Asia’s Got Talent. As one of the most popular finalists in the regional competition, previous clips of her elimination during her stint in the localized version of the show circulated online. After the judges voted her out in Pilipinas Got Talent, she defended her gift of singing Italian opera saying that “Filipinos are smart and are capable of singing different languages much like how we can sing in Korean or Japanese since it’s all about the melody.”

Watching how Gerphil Flores wowed the international audience and the foreign judges in Asia’s Got Talent with her amazing voice is truly a well-deserved redemption. Indeed, God’s major plans for her are starting to unravel.

What this reveals about Filipino judges

            The jurors in Pilipinas Got Talent may now be ashamed to realize that they might have made a poor judgment call on, not necessarily because they eliminated Gerphil Flores, but because they assumed that Filipinos will not appreciate classical music. Sadly, their unsophisticated and parochial views on musical talents prematurely ended opportunities for the Filipino masses to learn and appreciate a different kind of music genre. I think that the judges owe it to the Filipino audience to provide them with a variety of talents to choose from, regardless of their “marketability.” I strongly believe that they should leave it to the Filipinos to decide on that.   

 The good thing that came out of Gerphil’s unfortunate experience was that she resurrected herself and became an even more remarkable singer. Fortunately, the Philippines did not lose Gerphil Flores; in fact she even did the country proud. I just think that, as ironic as this may seem, she was celebrated and appreciated more outside the Philippines.

2. Filipino artistry is so diverse and wide ranging

  

            Singing is definitely what Filipinos are known for all over the world. It is both our natural gift and favorite pastime. But the diversity of the Filipino contenders’ performances in Asia’s Got Talent proves that we have other talents aside from singing.

           

El Gamma Penumbra’s shadow play acts proudly reveal how creative and imaginative Filipinos are. Its display of artistic refinement and profound messages through their performances showcase the wide variety and endless potential of the Filipino talent that are on par with international artists. Its spectacular and superlative acts have a very universal appeal, which the global audience can appreciate not only for its entertainment value, but also for its meaningful themes of peace, hope, and love. 

What this reveals about the Filipino talent    

            While Filipinos have an innate flair for signing, this should not limit us to explore other talents in the performing arts. The Filipinos’ overbearing preference for singing is partly reinforced by our showbiz culture that admires singers who tend to ape foreign acts, belt out high notes, and boast of vocal acrobatics. It is no wonder then that the grand winners of the past four seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent are individual male singers who sing pop music. I think it is high time that the Philippines celebrates the wide- ranging and high-level Filipino artistry to include instrumentalists, dancers, actors, and other artists of different genres such as classical, folk, jazz, modern, among others.     

3. Filipinos love to play the underdog

            Since talent shows are not complete without the background stories of talents, Filipino performers tend to portray themselves as the downtrodden underdogs. They highlight their personal stories of hardships and failures in reality competitions to appeal to the audience as if talent is not enough to prove themselves worthy of admiration. This is not only the trend in talent competitions in the country; it has also become evident among Filipino acts in “Asia’s Got Talent.” Perhaps the purpose for the contestants is to endear themselves to the people, and predictably the audience has come to embrace them.

            Junior New System narrated how they discovered their flair for dancing as street kids when they have nothing else to do in their lives. They promised that if they win in the competition, they would use the cash prize to help out and lift their families out of poverty. Not to trivialize anyone’s tragedy, but these are the stories that have become common fare on Philippine television, almost tired and worn out. I am not sure if the foreign audience of “Asia’s Got Talent” will find it endearing. My only concern is that stories like this perpetuate the global image of poverty in the Philippines. Fortunately, the background story of Junior New System has a triumphant note to it--- rejecting to be the hopeless victims of destitution by creating a name for themselves in the world stage through their talent. I think that Filipinos are so much more than being “poor;” it is time that we focus on highlighting our personal stories beyond that.  

 What it reveals about the Filipino

            This only proves that Filipinos are highly emotional beings who love triumphant stories of people overcoming tragedies. Sometimes, the more tragic a talent’s story is, the higher his/her chances of winning, especially when the audience eventually decides the winner. For most Filipinos, it is not only about winning (though it is the ultimate goal); what is more important is how a life will dramatically change for the better during the competition.  Though such heartbreaking dramas have become clichés over time, the Filipino contestants love to court sympathy, while the Filipino audience indulges in playing the compassionate and benevolent god (through their voting power) to the poor underdogs.  

 International competitions have always revealed so many things about the Philippines as a nation. Filipinos may not be the frontrunners in sports, mostly falling short during Olympic games. But definitely our abilities shine brightly in the arts, often dominating international talent shows.        

Asia’s Got Talent has definitely proven that Filipinos got talent. Though we have always prided ourselves with this common notion, there is still so much to be proud of watching the Filipino acts, along with the rest of the region, showing their artistry and giving their best. I consider it a very uplifting moment for all Filipinos and a grand occasion to be unified as a nation, rooting for all of these finest talents who have successfully displayed to the world what the Filipinos are capable of.

REFLECTIONS ON BECOMING A DIPLOMAT

The Class: Incidentally, the subject was on “International Relations and Diplomatic Practices,” which was both course related and career oriented at the same time. Since International Relations focused more on theories and concepts, the course provided an opportunity to discuss the application of these abstract ideas through diplomacy in actual situations. 

The Book:  FSO IV: Starting a Career in the Philippine Foreign Service written by Marciano de Borja published in 1999 is a good introductory book (and a required reading for the course) on what to expect in this profession.  FSO IV is short for Foreign Service Officer Class IV, the initial position of Filipino diplomats upon passing the Foreign Service Officers’ exam and entering the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is equivalent to the rank of third secretary if one is assigned to an embassy abroad or vice consul in the case of a consulate.

The Job: The book provides an insightful peek at the world of Philippine foreign service. It gave a balanced perspective on what diplomats actually do. Most people are fascinated with the glamour and perks of being a diplomat like travelling around the world, attending cocktail parties, and meeting high-profile people. But these are just a small part of a grueling and challenging profession. Diplomats do a lot of negotiations, write various diplomatic correspondences, participate in endless meetings, and protect the welfare of citizens overseas.

The Reality: The book ultimately presents this other side of the foreign service that most people are unaware of.  At its worst, this career can sometimes take a toll on one’s health (contracting stress-related illnesses), safety (facing dangerous situations abroad), and family (being separated from one’s spouse and children). The bottom line, according to the book, is that the foreign service is a lifelong vocation requiring serious contemplation, commitment, and dedication.

The Diplomat: Sig Masangkay, a bona fide FSO IV, validated some of the details in the book by sharing in class his work in the DFA. He particularly talked more about his journey in preparing and taking the infamous and much-dreaded foreign service officers’ (FSO) exam. Though he considers himself as just an ordinary student in college, he passed the FSO exam in just one take.  His personal account while undergoing the exam process is both enlightening and encouraging.

The Exam: His talk essentially proclaims that, contrary to popular notions, the FSO exam is not awfully difficult if one has really prepared for it, just like in any other exams. The various components of the test, which involves history, law, economics, culture, foreign language, and current affairs, make it a uniquely challenging intellectual exercise. There is therefore some semblance of truth to the notion that the DFA may be looking for a “walking encyclopedia” given the nature of the exam. That is why the speaker’s ultimate advice is to prepare, which involves hard work, determination, and a lot of reading.

The Students:  Reading the book and listening to the talk generated a lot of insights from the class about the realities behind a diplomat’s job and the challenges in the FSO exams. As part of their course requirements, these students’ wrote exceptional essays that revealed their personal reflections: 

Students at Miriam College taking up International Studies

On conquering doubts in deciding to become a diplomat by Donna Macaraeg:

“Although honestly the talk made me doubt if I should take the FSO exam since it was very hard on different levels, the speaker nonetheless convinced me that ‘nothing is hard just as long as you prepared for it.’ He taught me that sometimes you just got to swallow all those insecurities and be a man (or in my case a woman) about it.”

On improving one’s self to become a diplomat by Alleona Tagle:

“Choosing to become a diplomat involves developing one’s self. Being a diplomat means I have to improve myself and become more flexible and ready to face various challenges; become a good communicator since diplomacy is all about thoughtful speeches and well-crafted writings; and become more punctual because according to Secretary Roberto Romulo: ‘Diplomats should arrive at any meeting on time, regardless of traffic jams or any other alibis.”

On what it takes to become a diplomat by Sophia Garcia:

“I have learned the importance of having passion and taking risks. If one does not have the passion to become a diplomat despite the challenges, then he or she will not have the motivation to actually become one. Being a diplomat also entails taking risks and stepping out of one’s comfort zone since ‘taking a risk is your way to develop yourself.’ Sometimes we get used to doing the same things without realizing that we are suppressing ourselves from achieving our potentials as individuals.”

On the purpose of being a diplomat by Jill Fernandez:

“The purpose of being a diplomat is not about pride and status in society. It is about genuine service without the comforts of the home and the willingness to serve the Filipino people beyond national borders. To put it simply, the point and purpose of being a diplomat is service to the people and to the nation. It might be a very difficult endeavor, but surely, it will be worth the sacrifice.”

 On the process of becoming a diplomat by Mia Estipona:

“I realized something about the foreign service after reading the book and listening to the speaker. It is ultimately about the process. These diplomats are not who they are today because of their skills from the very beginning. But they are who they are today because they went through the process and they are still continuously being processed. One needs to learn, live, fail, learn again, and live again. It’s a process--- a process that can truly change a life for the better if one sees beyond its surface and understand the value and the true meaning of it.”

The Takeaway: This is indeed a good reality check and an encouraging push for those wanting to be part of the foreign service.  It is both an exciting and challenging profession. Deciding to become a diplomat involves a lot of thoughtful consideration, and finally becoming one requires a lifelong commitment to represent and serve the nation.  In the final analysis, the foreign service may be a prestigious career but it is ultimately not for the faint hearted.

TWO THUMBS UP FOR "ENGLISH" AND "TADHANA"

2015 began with a bang for the local film industry with two remarkable movies that gave Filipino viewers some quality entertainment. I personally watched both films at the start of the year and I was not disappointed. In fact, I felt that I got my money’s worth.

Though “English Only Please” was one of the entries in the 2014 Metro Manila Festival, it was only after it won several major awards that captured the interests of Filipino movie goers. Its lack of public awareness was understandable, considering that the MMFF were typically dominated by entries with popular celebrities and big budget productions that were usually mediocre and forgettable. No wonder most people trooped to the movie theatres after the New Year to judge for themselves if the film deserved all the recognition it earned.

“English” has a simple and light-hearted story about a perky language tutor (Jennylyn Mercado) who helps a broken-hearted Filipino-American (Derek Ramsey) with his Tagalog. Of course, viewers expect that the two characters will fall in love while having their “language lessons,” but the film incorporated notable scenes that made it entertaining in its entire duration. There were hilarious moments that did not turn-off the viewers. There were also some witty dialogues that are relatable to everyone who were madly in love and then fell out of love. 

The movie definitely merited the accolades it won during the film festival. It is refreshing to see how a simple story can amuse and enlighten at the same time, which created lasting impressions for the audience. This should hopefully encourage movie producers to create more well-written movies with a different storyline and prompt festival organizers to be more selective of the local films it will showcase.   

Meanwhile, “That Thing Called Tadhana” can be considered a surprise hit.The title itself is already catchy enough to make viewers curious of its plot. However, those who are looking for a clear and solid plot with several events unfolding in the movie might be disappointed to know that there’s more talk and less story in “Tadhana.”

The film is about two people who met at an airport in Italy. The female lead (Angelica Panganiban) was heartbroken over the end of her eight-year relationship and inadvertently found solace from a stranger (JM de Guzman). Their accidental meeting eventually led to a road trip that took them to Baguio and Sagada. Both characters shared their past, hopes, and the lessons in between while finding comfort and healing in each other’s company and earning the strength to finally move on. 

And this is where it is widely-recognized as an unexpected hit. With only two characters, a long journey, and too much talk, the film did not bore viewers. Instead, it evoked so many emotions that the word “hugot” became so popular in everyday conversations and in social media. The dialogues are so “sapul”--- the words admittedly can tug anyone’s heart and can shoot straight at it that the same time! The curse words spewed by the two make their anger and frustrations real and believable, while their nuggets of wisdom spoken in between tears all the more endeared themselves to the audience.

The background narration of a heart and an arrow, presented in creative animation, gave it a more philosophical impression. This reflected the movie’s depth, which can be synonymous to a serious “art film” in a charming and light-hearted way.

Both “English” and “Tadhana” are written by Antoinette Jadaone who brilliantly captures the feelings of people who are madly in love and desperately trying to move on. It is also no small wonder that both films are dominated by women protagonists who can relate more to the female audience yet do not exclude the male perspectives. Both have simple plots yet fully engage the viewers’ thoughts and emotions.

The difference is that “English” is intended to be a mainstream movie while “Tadhana” is initially an indie film that eventually got a wide showing in commercial theatres. I can also distinguish the two by how most people reacted to both movies’ finale. “English” gave the viewers’ a happy ending, while “Tadhana” concluded with an enigmatic closure that left the audience feeling “bitin.” It was an ending that gave the audience something to ponder on about love and what could have been. While “English” generally pleased the viewers, “Tadhana” made some feel dissatisfied and left hanging.

Despite their differences, these romantic-comedy films proved that a simple yet well-written story can be a huge hit. Their wide success reflected the growing maturity of both the local film industry and the Filipino public. Indeed, the quality of films and the taste of the audience are slowly evolving into something more sophisticated, creative, and intelligent.

This is good news for all of us love-struck Filipino audience who can now count on more substance and less cheesiness in our rom-com movie fare. Things are looking more positive now for the local film industry. Both “English” and “Tadhana” gave us hope and a competitive alternative for Hollywood movies that have long dominated our theatres.