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?