'The Voice'
We just watched The Voice of the Philippines Kids and our bets (we were rooting for two) did not win. Not that our two boys (I want to us 'my' all the time, I am possessive) are not talented. In fact all the four kid-finalists had real talent. Of course we all have our favorites. One of our bets comes from a middle-class family and came home all the way from Canada to compete. That boy hit the notes laser-like, exuded just enough confidence to perfectly render his songs, and presents himself as he is, simply decent. Our second bet is a mestizo Cebu-native who was single-handedly raised by his Uncle as he was orphaned by his Mom a couple of years back. I felt that in each song he sang, he offered to her. Even the songs he rendered with his 'feminine' personality (I have a feeling he is gay, but that did not blur my judgement of his talent). The two other finalists are little girls, one who could not help bawling all the time, (she was ranked last in the tally) and the other, who was declared the winner.
The winner of the competition sang quite well, actually. She had the masses at first note since the competition began, coming from a poor family. She did not hit the notes precisely, she just knows how to sing, period. I don't even think she took to heart the songs chosen for her to sing, she just learned them, stood on the stage, and sang. The judges said she had the making of a superstar, and likened her to Nora Aunor, the superstar in this country whose Cinderella-like life story is known by many.
It is important to note that the winner in the competition is judged not only by their performances, but also through text/sms votes. That is the sad part. Filipinos, in general, always love the underdog, the pitiful one, the one who needed a shot at it, the one who just had to have a chance, somehow. In all things, in competitions, in school, in the workplace, (current issues in government particularly is a case in point). We love the drama, the theatrics, the tears. We forget the bottomlines, at the end of the day, The Voice of the Philippines is about the 'voice'. Not about winning a chance at a better life. Much like that education is for the absorption of knowledge, and a springboard for a future only as a consequence, if put into proper use. The workplace is not a charitable institution, where we afford tolerance to employees who have difficulties in their personal lives. Government service is such, service. It is not where elected officials claim self-entitlement and then invoke sympathy when caught with a hand in the cookie jar.
I am part of this system, honestly. Sometimes it gets to me that we are 'all-heart'. I was, and still am, in all of the aspects of my life. I say that as more of whining, than a criticism. Because I cannot get myself out of it. And I think, neither do they who are part of my life. So, this poor little girl won the singing competition. Not because she is the best among the finalists, I feel strongly that it is because we needed her to win. Not only for herself or her family, but for the satisfaction of this nation that through their votes, they gave her a chance at something, at least. We all needed her victory as a balm for our wounds, self-inflicted in this cycle of 'heart-heart-heart'.
The winner of the competition sang quite well, actually. She had the masses at first note since the competition began, coming from a poor family. She did not hit the notes precisely, she just knows how to sing, period. I don't even think she took to heart the songs chosen for her to sing, she just learned them, stood on the stage, and sang. The judges said she had the making of a superstar, and likened her to Nora Aunor, the superstar in this country whose Cinderella-like life story is known by many.
It is important to note that the winner in the competition is judged not only by their performances, but also through text/sms votes. That is the sad part. Filipinos, in general, always love the underdog, the pitiful one, the one who needed a shot at it, the one who just had to have a chance, somehow. In all things, in competitions, in school, in the workplace, (current issues in government particularly is a case in point). We love the drama, the theatrics, the tears. We forget the bottomlines, at the end of the day, The Voice of the Philippines is about the 'voice'. Not about winning a chance at a better life. Much like that education is for the absorption of knowledge, and a springboard for a future only as a consequence, if put into proper use. The workplace is not a charitable institution, where we afford tolerance to employees who have difficulties in their personal lives. Government service is such, service. It is not where elected officials claim self-entitlement and then invoke sympathy when caught with a hand in the cookie jar.
I am part of this system, honestly. Sometimes it gets to me that we are 'all-heart'. I was, and still am, in all of the aspects of my life. I say that as more of whining, than a criticism. Because I cannot get myself out of it. And I think, neither do they who are part of my life. So, this poor little girl won the singing competition. Not because she is the best among the finalists, I feel strongly that it is because we needed her to win. Not only for herself or her family, but for the satisfaction of this nation that through their votes, they gave her a chance at something, at least. We all needed her victory as a balm for our wounds, self-inflicted in this cycle of 'heart-heart-heart'.
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