Author Topic: Why do Filipinos smile amid disasters? (Read 14182 times)

islander · « **on:** August 09, 2012, 02:38:33 PM »

we do. as strange as it may seem to other people, some pictures of the recent floods in manila can attest to this. so do those pictures of calamities past. children laugh and play, adults do what they can. smiling.

even tb's own taga tigbao--the middle one in the picture below--is smiling while knee-deep in floodwaters. (i know he's smiling because if he were not, his posing would have been that of bruce lee ready with a fatal blow.

)

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islander · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:17:31 PM »

an item from the past told of such...

US GIs wonder Filipinos still smiling

By Beverly T. Natividad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10/03/2009

MANILA, Philippines - A team of American soldiers got a first-hand look at the devastation wrought by tropical storm "Ondoy" and ended up wondering how Filipinos could still smile and give them "high-fives" amid a terrible calamity.

American marines and Filipino soldiers bring relief
to typhoon victims (picture source: http://article.wn.com/)

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islander · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:19:00 PM »

At least 27 members of the 3rd US Marine Expeditionary Force, composed of doctors, nurses, medical aides and a chaplain, the other day conducted a medical and dental mission at Nangka Elementary School, which sheltered thousands displaced by the massive floods in Marikina City.

We've seen things here (in terms of the destruction) that we haven't seen before. This is really the least we can do. We wish we could stay longer, said Lt. Commander Todd Endicott, the mission's leader.

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islander · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:21:05 PM »

Endicott also shared one interesting observation: We all wonder how
Filipinos keep smiling through all this.

Americans probably wouldn't handle this as well. Here, people are smiling, saying "Hi" to us, giving us high-fives. This is a pretty miserable situation, how people keep smiling, I don't know. It's probably a testament to the culture, Endicott said.

more at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091003-228116/US-GIs-wonder-Filipinos-still-smiling

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islander · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:34:03 PM »

the banana republic and i had the same observation, discussed over lunch a few hours ago. our shared thoughts, obviously pedestrian (as in experience with human nature and being filipinos ourselves), not the expert psychologist's kind

:

we have an intrinsically sunny disposition.

we're not high-strung as a people.

our sense of humor makes us easy to please. it happens to be humor that is just as easily given, and displayed.

we know we can prevail. we have overcome the real threat of death of the calamity. what is current is just an inconvenience. why make it worse with a sour face?

a present inconvenience may just be a break from the humdrum of daily life.

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pioneer · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:36:02 PM »

one of the good sides of being a Filipino. sorrow-proof we are.

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islander · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:37:53 PM »

lucky to be a filipino!

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islander · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:42:42 PM »

we have the ability to laugh at ourselves.

sometimes, the smile can serve as a cover to our embarrassment. we hate being embarrassed. it's worse than being dirt poor. look at how we laugh at someone in an embarrassing situation, like pants that are split right at the crotch, the banana republic said. chances are the victim will end up laughing as well, with a funny statement to boot. but it's a good enough cover as any. again, why make it worse with a sour face?

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islander · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:52:00 PM »

needless to say, we mourn over losses. the real ones, like the loss of life. but when the danger has passed, we know we can pick up the pieces and go on as before.

we are by nature forgiving. we forgave the marcoses. (romania, for one, didn't forgive the ceausescus.) of course, we have forgiven them; they're back to politics, right? there are even more of them now. so how can we not forgive mother nature?

others would say it's because we're fatalistic. i guess the better word would be accepting. we're more accepting of the blows we're dealt with, and somehow manage to stand again.

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vrglguapo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:52:55 PM »

Ang pilipino bisan kasab-an sa iyang Boss mo smile lang gihapon ,Unya ang Boss musulti ...stop smilling like an idiot..mo smile lang gihapon ang pinoy..LOL

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islander · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2012, 03:55:42 PM »

Ang pilipino bisan kasab-an sa iyang Boss mo smile lang gihapon ,Unya ang Boss musulti ...stop smilling like an idiot..mo smile lang gihapon ang pinoy..LOL

our best weapon against tyranny. masuya ug samot ang boss.

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islander · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:05:11 PM »

thus, to Lt. Commander Todd Endicott, may we inform you that we're still smiling. wish you were here...

Meet the waterproof Filipinos

Knee-deep in floodwater, Filipinos find a way to share hope and humor via Instagram.

As many as 50 deaths have been attributed to flooding and heavy rains in the Philippines over the last 10 days. The capital, Manila, is still submerged, and more than 154,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.

But the rain hasn't dampened spirits everywhere. Many young Filipinos find time to splash around and share a smile through the social media service, Instagram.

Here are a few of the best pictures GlobalPost found under the hashtags #Flood and #Philippines.

http://www.globalpost.com/

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islander · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:07:43 PM »

http://www.globalpost.com/

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islander · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:10:15 PM »

http://www.globalpost.com/

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vrglguapo · « **Reply #14 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:13:01 PM »

naabot ba kaha kadtong apartments namo sa manggahan pasig tawon dool ra ba to sa Floodway..

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islander · « **Reply #15 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:21:22 PM »

let us hope nga apil to sa 20% nga unaffected. usahay, molihay ang katalagman kay maikog sa tag-iya.

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islander · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:26:24 PM »

you just may wish to check, vrglguaps.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/268760/news/metromanila/list-of-flooded-areas-in-metro-manila-as-of-august-8

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vrglguapo · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2012, 04:37:17 PM »

let us hope nga apil to sa 20% nga unaffected. usahay, molihay ang katalagman kay maikog sa tag-iya.

hahaha ! salamat for your comforting words Miss Isles,mitawag ko karon wala kuno maabot ang among lugar kay medyo elevated unya ang tubig didto gyud sa floodway mi dulong,praise be to God..

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islander · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2012, 05:14:42 PM »

wow! that's good news.

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chicogon · « **Reply #19 on:** August 12, 2012, 01:15:08 PM »

one of the good sides of being a Filipino. sorrow-proof we are.

Mohilak ra ug buwagag uyab

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chicogon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2012, 01:16:31 PM »

Bwahahaha... asa ra sila!!!

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2012, 09:24:23 PM »

Hmm, di ba mora ni siyag man of the cloth (nga walay clothes) nga nagsabwag og panalangin?

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #22 on:** August 13, 2012, 01:30:50 PM »

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #23 on:** August 13, 2012, 01:31:47 PM »

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #24 on:** August 13, 2012, 01:32:42 PM »

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #25 on:** August 13, 2012, 01:33:16 PM »

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2012, 01:34:05 PM »

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Lollapalooza · « **Reply #27 on:** August 13, 2012, 02:08:24 PM »

Ang pilipino bisan kasab-an sa iyang Boss mo smile lang gihapon ,Unya ang Boss musulti ...stop smilling like an idiot..mo smile lang gihapon ang pinoy..LOL

Kahinumdum ko sa among Supply Officer gikasab-an ug taman sa among Superintendent, ang iyang reply permi.."Okay Sir. Yes Sir. Thank you Sir" ... mao ra gyud na iyang balik balik nga tubag with matching smile..

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islander · « **Reply #28 on:** August 13, 2012, 02:25:41 PM »

pilding manglagot, hahaha!

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islander · « **Reply #29 on:** August 13, 2012, 02:27:32 PM »

i could see that she's going to grow up pretty. and boy, do i love their place. i wish i could live in a place like that, far away from car horns.

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islander · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2012, 02:59:51 PM »

great guy! this picture made my day.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2012, 03:44:51 PM »

i could see that she's going to grow up pretty. and boy, do i love their place. i wish i could live in a place like that, far away from car horns.

Its testament to the beauty of simplicity, dear isles.

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #32 on:** August 13, 2012, 07:49:29 PM »

Hmm, singing in the rain nga Pavarotti, Filipino version?

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #33 on:** August 13, 2012, 07:49:55 PM »

Or, the singing conductor...

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Lollapalooza · « **Reply #34 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:24:05 AM »

this went viral in the internet.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #35 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:35:03 AM »

this went viral in the internet.

Literally, through rainy clouds or suny skies......

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cujo · « **Reply #36 on:** August 14, 2012, 10:58:55 AM »

I think we Filipinos tend to forget in a split second once we see a camera.What register in our minds is " smile".In fact today I made a copy of pictures taken last week with a group of friends in a hospital ,with our friend who was dying of cancer.{ She died 2 days ago }We gathered around her and what did we do?I was horrified when my husband seen the pics and asked why are we all smiling ? I think Eppie would understand for she loves picture taking.We loved her so much and we will missed her.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #37 on:** August 14, 2012, 11:01:44 AM »

I think we Filipinos tend to forget in a split second once we see a camera.What register in our minds is " smile".In fact today I made a copy of pictures taken last week with a group of friends in a hospital ,with our friend who was dying of cancer.{ She died 2 days ago }We gathered around her and what did we do?I was horrified when my husband seen the pics and asked why are we all smiling ? I think Eppie would understand for she loves picture taking.We loved her so much and we will missed her.

Cujo,

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, Eppie. I'm sure that you all being there and laughing, smiling with her eased her passing.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #38 on:** August 14, 2012, 11:05:35 AM »

Pinoys are also so very spirited ! Even tho stressed kita sa atong trabaho, we are such a spirited people. With "umft" gajod atong expressionsms. Today at work, as I was finishing up my duties, gi tawgan ko sa usang amigang pinay who works in admissions. As i answered the department phone naka dungog sigoro si Rachelle (the one who works in admissions) nako ang ingon dajon, "Hoy Doc! Kumakain ka na I brought extra sinigang for you today! Hali ka dito sa cafeteria!"

bwahahaha!

Prior to that phone call, i was having a tiring day at work, but after hearing Rachelle's voice and laughing with her, na spirited up pod ko ba. As if her positivism / motherlyness telekinetically traveled to me.

PS. She makes one badasss sinigang btw.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #39 on:** August 14, 2012, 11:12:30 AM »

What is it with Pinoys and running into the rain/ bagyo?

True Story: Back in 1995, we had just moved into our new home in New Jersey. It was the summer of 1995 when a tropical storm was pounding the coast of new jersey, drenching the entire neighborhood. Out of no where, my dad went outside with his shorts and white shirt and told us kids to "dali dinhi!" ha ha ha ha.

In my mind i was thinking, "what??!!"

Then, out of no where, as if some kind of internal urge within me sprung to life, and i dashed outside with my father. I was 10 at the time and was a chubby little 10 year old wearing only shorts. Dad and i were running around our front grass laughing and soaking up the rain. my little sister, who was about 8 at the time, saw us both. then she yelled out, "daddy! kuya! mo uban pod ko oy!" hahahaha. she then dashed outside , too. all three of us were out there.

30 minutes later, we then went to the garage to dry up. ha ha ha. i guess the bagyo reminded my dad of his good ole' times in his childhood in bohol when he would go out in the rain with his brothers and his father.

i can only imagine what the neighbours thought. LOL.

ah but who gives a damnn what they think. we had fun. memories were made.

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