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Monday, July 7, 2008

Proudly Pinoy?

First, let me lay this on the table: I now understand why the so-called Japayukis lament the word’s negative connotation. I have so far learned that what happens in most night clubs here in Japan are far “cleaner” and tamer than their liberated Manila counterparts. How it is so will be tackled in a later post. Suffice it to say for now, that in general terms, I am convinced that working in a club or “omise” is not something to be embarrassed about.

But it is a story altogether different, when a club is being advertised as a haven for Filipina entertainers. This, the club promoters do by placing the Philippine flag in their neon signs/billboards, in newspaper ads and right by the very doors of the clubs.

Why do I draw the line? Because the choice to work in a club is personal and whatever negative impression the person gets from her job can be easily countered by the way she presents herself to the public.

But the use of the Philippine flag commercializes the image of the entire country and unnecessarily puts all Filipinos to the task of defending the nation’s reputation. That’s a more serious challenge that’s quite difficult to surmount.

I wish our government officials here tried to exercise moral suasion against the practice. I bet the same is not being done in establishments where the hostesses are mainly, Russians, Chinese or whatever nationality.

What say you?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree, what ever you do inside the club is your own business. Advertizing ones nationality is another thing.

Here, repair shops advertized "We have Pilipino technicians" because customers have high regards in the technical capability of Pinoys.

TENTAY™ said...

Naku naku naku. Tama ka jan. ngayon ko lang nakita yan. kelangan talaga kasama flag naten eh no. kaya tuloy tingin sa ten ganon nalang. hay.

Anonymous said...

just dropped by from nz. i agree that working in the entertainment industry is nothing to be ashamed about. but the use of the philippine flag as part of advertisements has a sterotyping effect.

btw nice blog parekoy

carlotta1924 said...

o.mi.goodness. hindi tamang gamitin nang ganyan ng mga banyagang yan ang philippine flag. alam ba yan ng mga officials natin iyan?

atto aryo said...

blogusvox: baka naman talaga Pinays are really the best entertainers. but then again ....

tentay: i share the same anger..

atto aryo said...

madbong: thanks for the visit. i hope nothing like this is happening there in NZ.

carlotta: am sure alam ng officials natin to. napapasyal naman sila sa mga ganun paminsan-minsan. :-)

pepe M. said...

i definitely agree...and how insensitive!

escape said...

kakalungkot naman at ginagamit na din pala ang bandila natin para sa ganyan.

Anonymous said...

bro, pwede exchange gift este links? andun ka na sa akin

GingGoy said...

my kuya in Tokyo didn't tell me that. so sad. pinoys should really do something about it

aajao said...

whoever put our flag up there is dumb. please direct this blog entry to the Philippine embassy. that's sad. :(

Dakilang Islander said...

dapat respetuhin naman nila ang bandila natin...wala bang aksyon ang officials natin dyan parang ang pangit tingnan

Coldman said...

baka naman love lang talaga nila ang Pinas! kaya may flag!

Filipinos are GOOD workers! =)

The Islander said...

dalawa lang yan...

its either they have high respect for Filipinos thats why they decided to represent the Filipino workers with our national flag. Or Filipinos are very popular that putting the Phil flag in the signage will immediately make a recognizable advertisement.

Anonymous said...

exactly. i hate the way they emblazon our flag onto their windows or signboards, then right beside it you'll see "filipina hostess bar" it was amusing at first, but kind of degrading after a while.

hindi ba dapat labor dept or owwa ang may hawak nyan?