Being A Filipino (Is Overrated)

There are about ninety million Filipinos in and around and out of the country. These includes the Overseas Filipino and Overseas Contract Workers (OFW's and OCW's), immigrants, tourists, middle class workers, blue-collared workers, athletes, and entertainers. And out of these ninety million Filipinos, only a handful of them are given recognition for their outstanding performances in their respective fields be it inside or outside the country. Who are these people? None other than our Filipino-Foreign athletes and entertainers who Filipinos love and adore.

Some of these Filipinos are true-blue Pinoys who have migrated to the United States, Europe, the Pacific and other major destinations across the globe. While some of them are what we call half-Filipinos who are sons and/or daughters of local migrants of the mentioned countries, either because it's job-related or force of nature.

As what was stated, most of these so-called successsful Filipinos are mainly found in the field of sports and entertainment, and, let us include in this very short list, the field of migrant workers abroad.

Now, let's make a list of some of the well-known Pinoys who have made it far enough and are still active in their respective fields.

In the field of Sports:

1. Nonito Donaire & Brian Villora of Boxing
2. Phil & James Younghusband of Football
3. JB Walsh and Miguel Molina of Swimming
4. Alex Pagulayan of Billiards
5. Fil-Am players in the Philippine Basketball Association
6. David Bautista, also known as Batista on WWE

In the field of Entertainment:

1. Enrique Iglesias, who was seen wearing an "I love Philippines" shirt
2. Jasmine Trias & Ramiele Malubay of American Idol
3. Rob Schneider, who says he is a Filipino
4. Lou Diamond Philips & Ernie Reyes Jr of Hollywood
5. Vanessa Hudgens of Disney
6. BIlly Crawford, who recently came back from the U.S.
7. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls
8. Allan Pineda Lindo, who regularly visits the Philippines

From other fields, let's include Cristeta Comerford, White House Executive Chef.

This is not to say that we Filipinos no longer need to give credit and recognition of our fellow Filipinos, specially when we ourselves are the beneficiaries of the success and glory that they have achieved through hardwork and pain.This is to say that we should rather give the credit only to those who really deserved to be called Filipinos.

We, the lokal Filipinos, who have stayed in these islands, can no longer consider our fellow Pinoys, who have left the country for the purpose of gaining prosperity, as Filipinos still because ideologically speaking, they have embraced an economy, a culture and a life that they consider far better than what we have here in the Philippines.

In the case of our OCW's and OFW's, we can't blame them for going in and out of the country to earn a living but bear in mind that what they are doing is not for the country, not for the Philippines. They are only doing what they are doing simply because their current condition forces them to do so and they have nothing else in mind but to alleviate the kind of lifestyle that they have. But thanks to them, the country's economy is reaping the benefit through remittances (now that's another topic that needs another discussion sooner or later).

The same goes to the offsprings of these migrants. They have developed skills and talents that are really quite exceptional but the catch is, there are so many people in their place that have already the same talent. So, instead, they are sent here to utilize these gifts for their own satisfaction.

We don't need any breaking news to tell us that a new Fil-American was discovered because of his/her unbelievable talent. Most likely, a lot of viewers who were able to watched those said at least one of the following: galing talaga ng Pinoy, siyempre ganun talaga Pinoy eh, dapat tayong matuwa at ipagmalaki natin ang mga tulad niya and the like.

What we have to remember is this: primarily, not all of the half-Filipinos who we always claim to make us so proud are really doing this in behalf of the country because as what was mentioned earlier, they are doing this for their personal gain or satisfaction. It was only a coincidence that they were half-blooded Filipinos and we are the only ones who makes a very big deal out of it.

The next time that we see even Manny Pacquiao, a pure-blooded Pinoy, coming up the ring, we might as well think that he really isn't throwing punches for the country, or so he says. This is the only time that we'll realize that whether Pacman wins or not, we, Filipinos are really good in everything that we do with or without the acclaimed success of any Filipino-Foreigners.