Bakit maporma ang mga Pilipino?
Ben Bongalon
A friend of mine who currently has no net access is asking:
"Bakit maporma ang mga Pilipino?"
(Why are Filipinos so ostentatious?)
some examples:
- fixed up cars
- kahit sa school lang pupunta, nakabihis pang-party.
- etc..
my initial thoughts:
1. it's in our culture
2. it's a biased observation because only the flashy Pinoys get
noticed while the plain Pinoys don't get noticed and are
consequently not included in the sample.
3. it's a biased observation because other cultures are just as
guilty but the way they express their ostentatiousness is
not so obvious from the observer.
4. colonial mentality :-)
thanks in advance for the inputs.
ben
Marida Ignacio
|In article 5643, bong...@tcad05.intel.com (Ben Bongalon) writes
|<deleted>
Ben, isang tanong lang: Pinoy sa Pilipinas o rito sa Amerika?
Well, I'll try to cover both.
In the Philippines, sa mga kakilala kong lalake, wala namang
masyadong maporma. Kadalasan kasi, alam mo na, magiging biktima
sila ng tuksuhan(UUUUYYY, bago, puwedeng mabinyagan?, etc.) Since
it is mostly their nature to be shy (NOT siya'y tiga-... ),
as much as possible, they try to avoid it. Besides, alaws
namang dinero para panggastos...Well, come to think of it, I'd
encountered a few who are galante when it comes to trying hard
to get you to go out with them. Well, hindi ako madaling
masilaw eh...
Sa teenager naman, lalo na ang laki sa layaw o TH (trying hard)
to be, nandiyan ang Swatch watch, LA Gear, Nike, new haircut na
may buntot, etc...I know, coz my nephew used to be or is still
is. I guess they go through the 'kababawan' (shallowness) process
at some phase para sikat.
Sa mga kakilala ko rito sa Amerika, kung hindi porma sa kotse o
kasuotan, mahangin naman (parang hurricane Andrew ;^)). Mayroon
ding galante. A few months after I got here in the States, may
nagladlad ng pitaka niya sa akin at ipinakita ang sangkatutak
na credit cards niya (Citibank, Chase, American Express, etc...
Same thing happened but this time with an American. I am the
only lady in my group here at work and I do encounter 'hurricanes'
inside the building. Of course, alam niyo na ang nangyayari to
the likes of them(see above)...he-he-he.
In general, I have observed it with anybody of any nationality;
whether here or in the Philippines. In my own personal opinion,
it is an expression of insecurity of their inner personality,
who they really are (maybe, because they still don't know).
That is why they have to camouflage it with something. No
offense intended: Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan 'wag magalit.
Ben Bongalon
here in the US (both Phil and US born). my friend isn't expecting
a universal socio-philosophical theory for an answer :-)
just some insights.
ben
annette
5. It's a biased observation because the only data point is
Mr. Bongalon himself, otherwise known as Mr. GQ.
(joke lang, Ben).
Seriously, I think it's in our culture, and I think it's
something we share with South American countries who have
similar historic roots. Foreign students here from Brazil,
Columbia, Paraguay, etc. are just as maporma.
annette
Regina Sobejana
>A friend of mine who currently has no net access is asking:
>
>"Bakit maporma ang mga Pilipino?"
>(Why are Filipinos so ostentatious?)
Is your friend talking about Mr. BONG-GA! ;-) It's either Mr. BONG-GA
is all over the place, or your friend is spending too much time with him ;-)
>some examples:
[...]
>- kahit sa school lang pupunta, nakabihis pang-party.
>- etc..
>
[...]
>my initial thoughts:
>1. it's in our culture
The 'formal' or semi-formal use of clothing wear (dressed-up, pang-party
etc..), I think, is part of our culture (influenced from Spain).
I've often thought that our society back home, tends to be more
'semi/formal' -- dressed-up, spruced-up, ala-pang party...etc,
than casual (casual gathering, to school, etc).
I must admit, I was like the above when I first came here. Back home,
though sometimes I hate it, I could never go out of the house without
a well pressed - skirt, shirt, dress, and jeans on (kung minsan, naka-armirol
pa, ouch! especially those darn uniforms...), except when I play ofcourse.
That's because that's how I've been raised as a kid/young teenager.
[But now, that Mama lost control of me (sorry Ma, I've always hated your
"armirol" on my cotton shirts), I've dressed down quite a bit...;-) ]
>2. it's a biased observation because only the flashy Pinoys get
> noticed while the plain Pinoys don't get noticed and are
> consequently not included in the sample.
Sabi na nga bah eh (see above). Tell your friend to get a life
and spend more time with the AbsentMindedNonFlashyPinoyTechnocrats ;-)
There're quite a bit of us here -- "d-baduys & d-wapoys"
>3. it's a biased observation because other cultures are just as
> guilty ...
Our culture is not the only one. I also noticed this with other
countries whose culture were influenced by Europeans --
(ie: Spanish --- countries of latin America; British -- Hong Kong ...etc...).
>...but the way they express their ostentatiousness is
> not so obvious from the observer.
Maybe the observer should consider looking at the mirror ;-)
That will count... ;-) whether the obeserver is pino/ay or not.
(if the oberserver is your friend is pino/ay, your friend should be able
to tell between 'maporma' and 'de-porms' ...check with Mr. B ;-)
>4. colonial mentality :-)
Hmmm.... you mean yung mga "trying-hard"? And folks who put up
label first vs. practical use? Yah...they're around,
pero hindi lang mga Pilipino. This may have something to do
with low self-esteem, "..got to look good to be noticed..." kinda
mentality. And then again, this isn't just a Filipino thing.
For 'maporma' == trendy....pino/ays, well I noticed that our society back
home are a bit trendy. There's an emphasis on fashion clothings...latest
style (mostly European style) and etc. So yes, this may have
something to do with colonial mentality ;-)
I wouldn't be surprise if there are many filipinos here in the US, that
are into that.
Anyway, let's face it! Magaling lang talaga magdala ang mga Pina/oys! ;-)
I'm sure you're friend would agree ;-)
-Ginnie
:-) Stereotype: Bakit nga ba mga Pinoy sa North Bay Area (SF/Daly City)
'mapoporma' kesa sa mga taga South Bay Area?
Dahil: mga taga No. BA ay "ma-art-keting" (business-minded)
and "ma-arti-crats" (art-minded)" :-)
mga taga So. BA ay "absent-minded technocrats" :-)
(no flame intended for humor-impaired)
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Gv Fragante
presume. Well, if so - think well and try to recall a summer student who worked
with the EDP during the summer of '85. Glance at the header if the name rings a
bell. Yours does because I remember meeting a fellow in Shell who said he was
moving to Calgary. Your header does ring a bell. BTW, I was under Jojo Montano.
Hope you remember me. I think I remember you and, if this is not a case of a
mistaken identity, even at that time you were stil ma-porma ! Just kidding.
Regina Sobejana
[...]
: I happen to like dressing casually, but for me casual does not
: mean unpresentable or humdrum (i.e., no nondescript sweatpants
: and ratty jeans). Casual can be stylish - I happen to favor the
: kind of stylish-casual stuff that I can get from Eddie Bauer,
: Lands' End, and L.L.Bean. I also like the stuff I see in the
: J.Crew catalog, but so far haven't ordered from them.
:
: So right now as I sit here typing this in an empty office on a
: Friday afternoon, I'm wearing my Izod shirt, very soft cotton
: sand brushed twill L.L.Bean slacks, cotton Dior cable-pattern
: socks, and classic Timberland boat shoes in brown, and my specs
: are in a blue-accented metal-rim Benetton frame. I'm wearing a
: casual brown-leather strap Seiko analog/digital watch in a retro
: style (black numerals, white face, chrome case). My hair's short.
: I'm wearing Grey Flannel. Does this make me "maporma"?
:
Yes, your middle initial say's so -- Victor "Porma" Panlilio ;-) ;-)
(you aren't humor-impaired, are you?)
Ben, 'didn't know you got cousin in Canada :-) :-).
: If it does, that's too bad. I'm not trying to impress anybody. I
: just happen to like wearing what I wear - quality clothing that
: happens to be stylish. If it draws favorable attention, what's
: wrong with that? I happen to care somewhat about my appearance!
Well, being "maporma" doesn't have to have a negative connotation on it.
One can be trendy and stylish without wearing famous brand or label names.
I think it has something to do with the person's taste and color coordination
of his/her clothings/accessories that makes him/her "maporma" - noticeable,
eye-catching etc...
Then there is that 'kilos-maporma', or arrogant look. The way how s/he
carries her/himself in conjunction with the quality of her/his style
(maybe trendy) will make her/him 'kilos-maporma' or just 'maporma'
:
: On the other hand, I think there are people who are either too
^^^
: obsessed with what they wear or how they look that it seems that
^^^^^^^^
: they have to impress the hell out of everyone they meet. Are
: these the people who order $2500 suits from Dunhill and $1200
: brogues from Lobb's? Or if they wear off-the-rack, the ones who
: strut around in Armani and Boss and Zegna and would never dream
: of wearing anything but Sea Island Cotton shirts and silk boxers?
Unfortunately, there are Filipinos (and others) like you mentioned above
that do exist. People as such probably live to impress or doesn't know
what to do with their money. Sad, but true. I know a few.
[...]
:
: If that's being "maporma," well, it's all relative. People who
: like to wear labels on the outside are terribly insecure about
: how others perceive them. It's what's inside that really counts,
Amen...
: and some of the best people I've met are "bakya" by the standards
: of the "maporma" Filipinos. I tend to get lumped in with the
: latter group, but I don't think about it much, really.
And what do call Filipinos who're caught in the middle?
Hmmm... 'haven't figured out that one yet...
: Hugs to all!
:
: 8^)
--Ginnie
Aimee Manosa
|> So right now as I sit here typing this in an empty office on a
|> Friday afternoon, I'm wearing my Izod shirt, very soft cotton
|> sand brushed twill L.L.Bean slacks, cotton Dior cable-pattern
|> socks, and classic Timberland boat shoes in brown, and my specs
|> are in a blue-accented metal-rim Benetton frame. I'm wearing a
|> casual brown-leather strap Seiko analog/digital watch in a retro
|> style (black numerals, white face, chrome case). My hair's short.
|> I'm wearing Grey Flannel. Does this make me "maporma"?
|> Just my $0.02 worth......
So....don't keep us in suspense!!! Are they calvin kleins, bvd's, silk
boxers....?
8^o
|>
|> 8^)
8^)
--
~
Aimee Manosa ai...@wpd.sgi.com
Silicon Graphics, Inc
Aimee Manosa
|> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
|>
|> White, with tan stripes. So there!
Ah...so now I'm a wench? Well, dahhhliingg, you can forget all those
nice things I was going to tell the rest of the female population about
you!!!
;-)
|>
|> Not that I'd expect YOU to see them anytime *soon*, hah!
No...but since you were being so generous in letting us know what was
covering your body, I thought I'd try to get it all out in the open!
|>
|> What about you, dearie? *snicker*
Depends on the mood...it swings from victoria's secret to calvin's to
bali...
So there. Did you think I was going to bug out from this? Hah!
Ben, what about you....would you like to share some of your secrets
about "what it feels like" being Mr. GQ?
Gv Fragante
writes:
VP> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
VP>
VP> White, with tan stripes. So there!
AM>Ah...so now I'm a wench? Well, dahhhliingg, you can forget all those
AM>nice things I was going to tell the rest of the female population about
AM>you!!!
Nah, don't believe him. I am more inclined to think that "nothing ever comes
between him and his maong".
AM>Depends on the mood...it swings from victoria's secret to calvin's to
AM>bali...
Nice choice. But you left out the sexier details - laced or silk ?
AM>Ben, what about you....would you like to share some of your secrets
AM>about "what it feels like" being Mr. GQ?
Careful with that term - at some time, GQ meant 'Galing Quiapo'. No offense to
anyone.
Regina Sobejana
: In <1992Aug31.0...@odin.corp.sgi.com> ai...@wpd.sgi.com (Aimee Manosa)
: writes:
:
: VP> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
(gees men's size is a lot complicated than I thought! :-) )
Or are you talking about how much material your boxers have .... ;-)
: VP> White, with tan stripes. So there!
:
: AM>Ah...so now I'm a wench? Well, dahhhliingg, you can forget all those
: AM>nice things I was going to tell the rest of the female population about
: AM>you!!!
:
: Nah, don't believe him. I am more inclined to think that "nothing ever comes
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: between him and his maong".
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
:
but then, wouldn't that hurt? :-)
:
: AM>Depends on the mood...it swings from victoria's secret to calvin's to
: AM>bali...
:
: Nice choice. But you left out the sexier details - laced or silk ?
knowing her, she'd go for both. But then again...that's Aimee's secret. :-)
(that's a new brand/label btw, only comes with laced or silk :-) )
: AM>Ben, what about you....would you like to share some of your secrets
: AM>about "what it feels like" being Mr. GQ?
Oo nga naman Mr. GQ (aka: Mr. BONG-GA)! InquiringFemalePersuasionMinds
want to know!
:
: Careful with that term - at some time, GQ meant 'Galing Quiapo'. No offense to
so, that's what it meant! :-) :-) orig talaga sa'tin 'no :-)
So, Mr. BONGAlon, what does your friend has to say with all these creative
inputs we have?
d8^)
Sonny Dionida
From: <1992Aug31....@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com>
> : VP> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
> "tiny" eh! Is that the new men's size now a days, as lady's petite size?
> (gees men's size is a lot complicated than I thought! :-) )
> Or are you talking about how much material your boxers have .... ;-)
^^^^^^^^
Are you referring to the material as in the type of fabric or
the *material* men carry inside our boxer shorts? 8-{)
---sonny
Regina Sobejana
:
: From: <1992Aug31....@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com>
: > : VP> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
: > "tiny" eh! Is that the new men's size now a days, as lady's petite size?
: > (gees men's size is a lot complicated than I thought! :-) )
: > Or are you talking about how much material your boxers have .... ;-)
: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: ^^^^^^^^
:
: Are you referring to the material as in the type of fabric or
: the *material* men carry inside our boxer shorts? 8-{)
:
..that sounds scarry /8-}
:
: ---sonny
:
Aimee Manosa
|> frag...@unixg.ubc.ca (Gv Fragante) writes:
|> :
|> : VP> Aimee, you wench! St. Michael's "tiny" boxers, very soft cotton!
|> "tiny" eh! Is that the new men's size now a days, as lady's petite size?
|> (gees men's size is a lot complicated than I thought! :-) )
|> Or are you talking about how much material your boxers have .... ;-)
Actually, it's probably one of those thong type things...do they make
those for men??
|> : Nah, don't believe him. I am more inclined to think that "nothing ever comes
|> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> : between him and his maong".
|> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> :
|> but then, wouldn't that hurt? :-)
If he wears the thongs, I'm sure he'd get "maong burns" on his buns!!!
By the way, which way do the stripes go?
;-)
|
|> : Nice choice. But you left out the sexier details - laced or silk ?
|> knowing her, she'd go for both. But then again...that's Aimee's secret. :-)
|> (that's a new brand/label btw, only comes with laced or silk :-) )
Well.....actually, I'd like to keep this to myself... Ginnie's right, my
secret!
Aimee
Aimee Manosa
Boy!!! This is starting to get quite juicy! 8-o ;-)
--
~
Aimee Manosa ai...@wpd.sgi.com Opinion's are mine!
Silicon Graphics, Inc
Aimee Manosa
|> Hey, Ginnie! No fair! For your info, it's the length of the legs
|> on the boxer shorts! Not the waist (or other dimensions). And if
|> you really wanted to know, they were size Small/Petit (we have to
Small?!?!??!?! Petit!?!??!?!?!
Next.
|> Regards to all!
|>
|> Victor Pilyo 8^)
Let's talk about being pilyo/pilya.... ;-)
--
~
Aimee Manosa ai...@wpd.sgi.com Opinions are mine!
Silicon Graphics, Inc
True Blue
wearing them. I have a friend (American) who swears that they are really
cool, so one day (several years ago), I went out and bought one. They're
the most inconvenient pair of jeans I've ever worn. I can't quite deal with
all those buttons, like a few hours after drinking several glasses of
water. And it's definitely unsuitable for people with long, polished nails.
So now my 501's are packed away in a suitcase, along with other clothes and
shoes that I bought on a whim.
Here's a maong story that you may find amusing:
Last December, I went home to the Philippines for vacation. After
Christmas, my sister's boyfriend invited us to his uncle's beach house in
Balayan, Batangas for a few days. So my sister, her boyfriend, another
sister and I drove down to Balayan to stay for a couple of days. The beach
house is actually a retreat house by the shore. So after we got there, we
donned our bathing suits to take a dip in the sea. After a while, we
noticed that we were getting curious stares from the local people. So my
sister's boyfriend said, "What do you expect, they're only used to seeing
nuns staying at this house."
After a litle while, we noticed a group of teenagers on the beach. First it
was only the guys, wearing shorts and swimming/playing in the water. Then
the girls joined them. Guess what their swimming attires were? They were
wearing jeans! They were actually wearing long, denim pants!!!
My sister remarked, "I didn't know that they had a formal dress code on
this beach!"
Gv Fragante
>Speaking of maong and 501's, I never figured out what was so special about
>wearing them. I have a friend (American) who swears that they are really
>cool, so one day (several years ago), I went out and bought one. They're
>the most inconvenient pair of jeans I've ever worn. I can't quite deal with
>all those buttons, like a few hours after drinking several glasses of
>water. And it's definitely unsuitable for people with long, polished nails.
>So now my 501's are packed away in a suitcase, along with other clothes and
>shoes that I bought on a whim.
I used to wear only 501's and they were definitely *ouch-less* jeans. They
faded beautifully, too. Unfortunately, I've grown out of them and have
hesitantly recycled them into trapo. Sigh, too bad. But thank God for the
revival of The Gap.
Ben Bongalon
ai...@neon.wpd.sgi.com (Aimee Manosa) writes:
>Ben, what about you....would you like to share some of your secrets
>about "what it feels like" being Mr. GQ?
sobe...@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com (Regina Sobejana) writes:
>Oo nga naman Mr. GQ (aka: Mr. BONG-GA)! InquiringFemalePersuasionMinds
>want to know!
oh, shucks.... 8*} (blushing smiley)
i think i'll just hide in my office cubbyhole and become an s.c.f.
lurker for a while. boy, i post a simple innocent question for a
(male) friend and what do i get? the Spanish Inquisition! :-)
cheers
ben
Nolasco Mappala
...
>After a litle while, we noticed a group of teenagers on the beach. First it
>was only the guys, wearing shorts and swimming/playing in the water. Then
>the girls joined them. Guess what their swimming attires were? They were
>wearing jeans! They were actually wearing long, denim pants!!!
>My sister remarked, "I didn't know that they had a formal dress code on
>this beach!"
Hmmm. The guys were wearing shorts, the girls jeans? Nahihiya lang
siguro yung mga 'yon. Anyways, it must have been a trip for those
locals to see nuns in bathing suits... :-)
--Yett
--
Nolasco Mappala Jr. UNISYS OSG Division San Jose, CA
nol...@starfish.Convergent.COM 408-434-2477