Humor. Is it just a diversion or car.:: be a
survival kit? In the Philippines,
laughter is the way Filipinos cope with natural catastrophes, overcome the
burdens of everyday life and cushion the impact of events over which they
feel they no longer can control.
The ability to reduce a situation to absurdity is, however, not to
trivialize it. Filipinos are not oblivious of despair. Their history is a
lament of the struggle against colonization, the atrocities of war,
political anarchy and poverty. More than just comic relief from these
harsh realities, Filipinos have found in humor a reservoir of psychic
energy from which they draw a positive outlook in life. If they can laugh
at a situation, Filipinos argue, they can rise above it.
This attitude may lead outsiders to conclude that Filipinos are passive to
their fate. But what may appear as passivity to the casual observer is in
fact an active social mechanism deeply rooted in the Filipino's
"collective consciousness."
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Filipinos say "bahala na."
Literally, it means "come what may." Figuratively, it means much more. The
phrase derives from Bathala, the ancient Filipino's Supreme Being,
caretaker of life on earth and beyond, from whom all providence comes. The
invocation of "banal na" affirms a trust in divine wisdom. Filipinos know
that the natural order of events will take their course, leaving no room
for angst nor the predilection to f take each event apart and delve for
spiritual malaise. So while outsiders were horrified that Filipinos could
laugh and joke during the attempted coup d' etat by the Reformed Army
Movement in 1989, where soldiers fought soldiers in the streets, Filipinos
saw only a series of minor events played out on a larger stage. After all,
at earlier times in their past, they have witnessed similar upheavals. And
to what end? The Spaniards came and the Spaniards went. So did the
Japanese and the Americans. Like the land itself, only the Filipinos, with
their passionate Christian belief that suffering is but a stepping stone
to a happy ending, endures. Ambition, politics, and men who try to control
deserve the reception they get, laughter. Natural forces receive a similar
reception. If one listens closely though, it becomes apparent that
Filipino humor does not jeer at nature's destructiveness but rather
expresses an optimism in its healing powers. Having lived closed to the
earth, they know that nature gives and takes in a cycle as eternal as life
and death.
Humor has many uses in the Philippines. As leveler, for instance, it
serves to expose the foibles of people in high office, thus bringing them
down to the company of ordinary men. Humor is also used to circumvent
taboos. As one would expect in an overwhelming Catholic nation, the urge
to poke fun at the Church is irresistible. As a necessary antidote to
their nation's strict sexual mores, Filipinos love to dish out punchlines
about their men's sexual prowess. Humor, both irreverent and banal, serves
as a soft rebellion against what is otherwise regarded with awe or
considered correct behavior.
Others might find s1%--,,v-burn humor revolving. Not Filipinos, who regard
bodily functions as natural. So are are less flattering human traits like
awkwardness, physcal deformity and effeminacy. These too come with the
territory, and taking them with an earthy jocular stance also means
accepting the human condition, warts and all.
Filipinos use humor to diffuse tension. During the 1986 EDSA Revolution,
families gathered in the streets feasting, singing and dancing while their
lives were being threatened. Jokes immediately sprung out of national
tragedies, such as the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, or turning points in
history, such as the ouster of the Marcos regime. By treating nothing
sacred, Filipinos guard their equanimity from breaking down.
As anywhere else, humor in the Philippines is also used for the sheer
enjoyment of a good laugh. Filipinos, who have ingrained joie de vivre, a
craving for heroes and superheroes and a propensity for grand fiestas, can
even chide their romantic nature in the larger than life irony of a joke.
Humor as with other forms of social intercoursein the
Philippines, is ruled by nuance and convention. Whether iris used as
satire, protest, psychological prop, or just for the fun of it, there are
characteristics that L3 , bestow a singularity on the Filipino
sense of humor. .
Filipino humor is rarely mean. Because of their strong sense of hiya
(shame), Filipinos go to great lengths to be polite. Just as a problem
should never be discussed directly, humor, likewise, should never be
confrontational. Whether the brunt of the joke is the government or other
established organizations, it is usually the impersonal "they" and not the
people who comprise the institution who become fair game.
Filipino humor is often self-deprecating. It is another weapon in
face-saving. By turning a mistake or a transgression into a light moment,
the teller relieves the injured party of having to correct him and allows
him to own up to his mistake in a way that allows him to also save face.
What may appear to an outside observer as another example of Filipino
superficiality, making fun of a situation which in fact might be extremely
serious, is really an intricate social contract between the two parties
that will allow them to continue to interelate in the future. In adjudging
Filipino behavior, one must remember that Filipino society is made up of
"closed circles of relationships" and each group member must be careful
never to burn his bridges with other group members.
Finally, humor in all its guises and uses, binds Filipinos together,
transforming an experience into an event that can be shared by all. When
Filipinos laugh at something that is unique to them, their laughter
becomes an assertion of their unity as a people. |
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