They say you can only know the real person once you’ve worked with them or if you have lived with them.
Luckily, I have had the opportunity to have worked with most of the community leaders (the genuine, the self-proclaimed and papellators) sprawled around. Although I have been burnt at times and even scarred, I am still grateful that at least I no longer have to live with them to find out who they really are.
But others have not been so lucky. For some, the wake up nudge comes a little too late and the big revelation comes after the damage has been done. Others simply refuse to see and are silenced for fear of falling out of favour, recrimination or banishment.
The genuine eventually burn out and retreat quietly much to our disadvantage. But the self-proclaimed and papellators are pumped up beyond recognition. They deucedly lurk around like vultures awaiting their next prey. With no real talent, they revel in their perverse notion of self importance. They rely on the ‘kakilala’ system which has been so ingrained in our culture along with the “sip-sip” mentality (suck-up mentality).
Armed with bloated egos and inflated resumes, they parade their pompous selves and [having] nothing better to do, they gravitate like groupies towards title holders. This is not because of their empathy for the community, their sense of patriotism or genuine kind-heartedness. It is simply to bask in self aggrandizement. Perhaps, it’s their only hope of redemption and a chance at reinventing themselves. Nothing wrong with the latter except there is no semblance of truth and totally devoid of reality. They are two faced — the real face they reveal to us and the other on display exclusively for title holders, who are therefore unable to see [beyond] the camouflage.
So when title holders bestow their “feel good” honours and titles, we flinch and question the worthiness of the recipients. And this is not a case of the crab mentality rearing its ugly claws but simply a question of credibility. After all, we know and they don’t; we’ve seen and they haven’t.
Dictated by the mandates of their respected offices, title holders maintain proper decorum at all times. Everyone is taken at face value and the fabricated write ups, believed. They are polite and inclusive until they unwittingly get taken for a ride — round trip at that! Although sometimes, I can’t help but wonder whether the title holders tolerate and condone it because they really fail to see or because they also do not want to see.
The problem with the awarding is the process itself. Firstly, the news does not filter through to the grass roots. News of anything does not the reach those who really need to be reached. Second, is the selection criteria itself. And lastly, the verification process of which there is none.
Try applying for a government job and you would have to go to through the whole selection process, plus the verification process. To get your diploma properly authenticated by Canberra takes 3 months plus a fee. However, when it comes to giving awards and titles, no one does the necessary checks nor is there community consultation. Perhaps, it’s all just too difficult.
But the saddest part is the consequence of such actions. We end up being defined not by our merits but by the pretend achievers who are unqualified in the first place. We are placed in a box and labeled “non-English speaking background,” “CALD” (culturally and linguistically diverse), etc. If they represent the Filipino community, that means they are representing us —that’s you and me! The exception becomes the norm which is not only so wrong but absolutely terrifying.
This brings me then to raise the following questions: Do awardees become the gauge for all of us? If that’s the benchmark, that’s an OMG! Are we genuinely respected or are we simply tolerated [or worse, being patronized]? Are we genuinely taken as a valuable contributor or simply to fill in the spaces and numbers? Do we crave for equality only to beg for indulgence for our flaws and weaknesses? If we demand equality, shouldn’t we then act as equals. No short cuts, no excuses and no buts!
At the end of it all, neither does it do the title holder any good nor does it benefit us as a people. If anyone thinks otherwise, they are grossly mistaken.
And talking about people, which people are they talking about, again? By the way, the Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Her Excellency Belen Anota is in Canberra and the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Rod Smith holds offices in Makati, Philippines. All other masquerading envoys can just dream on! (www.filipin-oz.com) —