Humor of a Darker Kind: Life of a Moreno in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to a diverse range of cultures and customs found around the world. An archipelago of 7,100 islands within South East Asia, the country is a melting pot of different cultures spanning thousands  of years.  

We have had many visitors in the country from the Malays, Indones and Aetas, as taught to us by our Sibika at Kultura subjects. The Spaniards, Americans and Japanese also made their voyage here for one reason or another. All of them played a role in molding our present culture and way of thinking. One pressing cultural phenomenon we experience today though is our obsession with having fair skin.  

Many Filipinos want to be “white”. So much so that any lad who stayed too long in the beach will hear the inevitable squawking of classmates and friends on how dark they had become. It is not a stretch to say that almost all morenos who grew up in the Philippines at one point in time dreamed the Filipino white dream.

I myself am part of the darker skinned Filipinos. With it come many stereotypes. Every time someone learns that I have German blood, I am more often than not given that stare of disbelief. Though they utter no words, the frequency of this event speaks for itself. “But you are dark,” is the simplest thought that could be put on that stare.

The frequency of this event does not bother me though because apart from that one orange thread of hair growing under my chin, I can’t see any other physical characteristic hinting German roots.

Another common joke of the darker kind is when the sun sets and all your friends act in a manner as if their moreno friends have magically disappeared from the face of the earth and can only see you when you smile with your teeth.

One joy that I and my dark-skinned brethren have though comes when the sun rises.  At that point, our ‘mestizos’, ‘tisoy’, or simply self-proclaimed-non-dark friends cower in fear of the mid-day sun afraid of losing the white that they have worked so hard to obtain. While they cower in the shade or nearest umbrella, we roam basking in the sun’s rays without fear of losing anything.

My beautiful skiiiiinnnn!

It’s funny seeing people running from one shade to another, avoiding the sun as if their life depended on it. what’s even funnier is watching them cringe in horror when someone utters the words “umitim ka”.

Come to think of it though, we have many frustrations with the color  white; a white Christmas and white collar jobs to name a few. I also don’t know that many people who can drink pure black coffee devoid of any creamer but that last statement might just be reading into this a little too much. 

A professor once said that we Filipinos are the only people that live in a tropical country, constantly complaining of the heat. Our frustrations with many things lead us to believe that we are tourists in our hometown.

Despite our cultural upbringing written in our history books, stories of our friends, siblings and society in general,  the answer to this obsession is because to this day, many of us still think in Block and White.

 Optic camouflage in the Philippines

  

A Week of Inspiration from Goth to Geek

Inspiration can come from the strangest of places. It is a common belief that in this day and age, nothing is no longer original. All of the greatest lines ever said have already been said and all we can draw from that least bit resembles originality in this world is inspiration.

What can you classify as an inspiration? From a local context, any child who encounters the word inspiration is from a teacher trying to justify your sudden interest and/or improvement in academics because of an attraction to a certain someone in your class. Thus for us Filipino people at least, we learn that we are “inspired” when we are at the presence of our so called “crush”.

The dictionary defines inspiration as a  “Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.” This means that inspiration can come from anywhere and indeed it does.

The source of my inspiration to write on this topic comes from two noteworthy events that happened within this week that have changed our outlook on pop culture from Goth to Geek.

On May 25 1977, a small time film maker came up with a grand idea of creating a story of a near extinct order of priest-like knights that do battle across the galaxy with physics defying weapons and mind bending talents. The novel Idea came to be known sometime later as Star Wars and George Lucas soon became a household name to all present and would-be geeks throughout the sci-fi verse.

 Before Star Wars, people used to mistake me for Kenny Rogers.

Backtrack May 26, 1897 another inspired writer published a book that would affect the Horror, Goth and  Pop culture. Though not the first of its kind, the novel defined our modern image of the vampire.  The writers name, Bram Stoker, and the character he created was named Dracula.

The two works of fiction would bring about other works of inspiration spanning many years. Without Star Wars, we wouldn’t have light sabers, the force and epic plot twists concerning family members. Without Bram Stoker’s Dracula, There would be no Anne Rice and the vampire trio of Armand Lestatte and Louie would be reduced to a less notable title of “Interview with the eccentric”.

Without Dracula we could have a very strong chance of having one Edward Cullen taking the helm of the Vampire image.

Imagine other classics without Bram... just imagine...

I have both a Geek and a Goth side in me cultured by these two works of art. Who wouldn’t want to be the last chance of freedom left in a galaxy far far away. On the other hand, every man at one point in time fancies playing the villain with the charm and class that can entice any female, while making man cower in fear and envy.

There are countless works already made by man the that can serve as inspiration for future classics. One need only open a book, watch a film or simply observe for old ideas that can inspire you to make new ones.

Who Wants to Live Forever?

 

Who wants to live forever? that is the title of one of rock band Queens songs which talks about an idea that has enticed as much as it has eluded man since time immemorial, immortality.

The Idea is as old as history itself. Primarily because as mortal beings, we are destined to expire eventually.    It is the thrust of many religions and beliefs.  The line that divides humans with Gods. 

But the question posed by this timeless song is “Who wants to live forever?” who wants to live life without fear of death?  If you were given that choice, what would you do? What would you give? What would you take to achieve this? And in the end, will it be worth it?

The argument of time was also challenged by scientists. Assuming time is infinite, there has to be a moment before Zero time, which to my understanding is the notion of the beginning of the universe. Does infinity expand after zero or go both ways?

The concept of forever though could also be perceived as a moment of time based on our own perception of it. So for a human, forever would mean beyond a lifetime. But a lifetime is also a relative concept limited to the extent one’s life, which would make it relative.

Forever, which is infinity measured by time is a concept that may not even exist for the very fact that no one has ever seen or experienced it. 

Because of these small  arguments, Immortality in a sense, may not be a reality in this world. But still, with the limited comprehension given to us by the human brain, we strive to find this concept of immortality that always eludes us.

Below is a list of Ideas and that man has generated in order to reach the proverbial status that is  immortality.

JOIN THE CLUB 27 

The club 27 is a club of the most elite members of musicians who have died at the age of 27. Prominent members include the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Jim Morrisson, Brian Jones and Kurt Cobain,  all of which are believed to have exchanged their lives in this world to live in fame and thus achieve a state of immortality in this world in the sense that they will not be forgotten.

The club 27 could be a perception of immortality based on time that spans beyond an individual’s expected lifetime.

With this idea, a person’s life will extend so long as you are spoken of by the living, which is an Idea not new to human culture as can be proven by various cultures found in human history.

Ancient Egyptians and  even the Chinese found truth in the above premise so much that they would go to extremes to be remembered (the pyramids, a lake of mercury and slaves buried alive in their name).

 

This club however will forever be forgotten from the annals of pop culture, forever stuck in their overly quirky, teeny boppy urban campfire purgatory. 

Join the Club 33

What do Jesus and Andres Bonifacio have in common? they are both members of this club

The club 33 is a less known but still equally thought provoking group of famous people who have died but achieved immortality. The list includes such personalities as John Belushi, Chris Farley and even famous musicians such as names of Bon Scott of AC/DC . To a greater extent there were even more prominent figures such as Alexander the Great, Andres Bonifacio and even Jesus himself.

The Latter believed to actually have been resurrected 3 days after death should also add to the validity of this club being a more viable venue for people who would receive the eluding Idea of Immortality.

The Irony with these clubs though is that to be immortal, one will have to die. And we’re not talking about any natural death here though because most club 27’ers either die of overdose, suicide and misadventure while the 33’s die from betrayal, torture, war and the likes.

BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY

Biological immortality refers to a stable rate of mortality as a function of chronological age meaning that in a sense, creatures that reach this state can theoretically live forever.

Many forms of bacteria and other microscopic things are believed to be biologically immortal, meaning that death will only occur from injury or disease rather than deterioration.

Enter the Turritopsis nutricula

Step aside Duncan Mcleoud. Eym the Reel Eymortal 

The  Turritopsis nutricula is also known as the immortal jellyfish. The only animal in the world known to be immortal.

Through a process called Transdifferentiation the jellyfish can transform back to its infant state ala Benjemin Button allowing it to “grow young” again. Because of this, if the Turritopsis nutricula wanted to live forever, it could.

Realistically speaking though, there probably are not many Jellyfish out there that would last a thousand years, being at the near bottom of the food chain, each year they live increases the chances that they will be eaten by one or more of its natural predators.

The Idea of pure immortality still eludes man. But like any major Religion, Belief or scientific venture, Immortality comes with a price.

As we sleep and reecho on the thoughts of how our life will come to an end one day, one way or the other, I ask you the question Mr. Mercury once asked again.

Who wants to live forever? 

There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment
Set aside for us

Who wants to live forever?

                                                                   Forever is our today...

                                                                                                                                   -Queen

The Tragedy of Cain

‘Tis a tragedy to have fallen so far from the tree

Does the punishment fit the crime?

I am the first of two things

First to be born of life

And the first to take one

But I ask you now

Are  there not worse evils committed in the world?

Many done in the name of love, family, greed jealousy

Many done in yours.

Are we not all brothers and sisters?

Borne from the very mother and father that bore me?

I am the first

 Which is the reason of my suffering

A punishment worse than death 

 is the curse of life.

Brought about by the brand marked on my face.

Good, evil and even death itself dare not take me into its arms.

For fear of the wrath sevenfold you would bring.

I wonder the world to this day, bearing your curse upon me.

Eternal life in this infernal world.

Years upon years I walk

Witnessing the rise and fall of heroes and tyrants

And still I remain.

Will no one take me?

Eternity is long enough

Run your blade through me and set me free

Whichever world I am taken

So long as it is no longer this one.

Take my curse upon yourself

And set me free

Free from this world

Free from this curse.

from the mark I bear.

The Severed Ear of Malchus

Sworn to silence, but under which god do I bear oath? Would it be that I have taken part of the slaying of a God?

Am I to be judged for my inaction?

Am I to bear the weight, the wrath of the people because of my presence?

These questions surround me. But the severed ear. It speaks to me it tells me the truth.

It was mine once, as it left my head sliced with cold steel, it fell to the ground.

Belonging to the earth. Once more to return  to dust.

You returned it me, no longer mine to have.

With it voices of the earth spoke to the ear. Told me truths. Most dreaded truths.

The truth of what this night would bring to me, to you, to all of us.

Because in the garden lay two sides. One revered, the other condemned.

For once a line between sinner and saint.

I and the one named Iscariot were caught in the middle. Neither condemned nor revered.

forever destined, in this world and the next

 to be victims of our own conscience.

You have a knack for servants and slaves I now see.

If you’ve  performed this on my masters things would have been different.

Why me if I may ask.

That I am the subject of your last miracle.

The Devil leaves us scars from wounds.

But for you, you leave me with something far worse.

Severed from me and then returned.

No longer  mine,  now wedged back to me.

Talking, whispering, taunting me for the remainder of my life.

I drew no blade, but am punished for my presence, my ignorance.

Punished with the gift of truth.

Truth coming from the earth itself.

And when your blood fell on the earth.

It whispered to me.

“You will remember and be remembered for this”

Sworn to silence by I a god I no longer follow.

The ear whispers to me what the earth says.

Yet I dare not utter a word.