I moved from the Philippines to New Zealand in 2008, and being the fresh kid I was I struggled explaining to my new community, friend and teachers where I came from. Most of the time they would have no idea where the Philippines was even situated, and Im sure up until now a lot of people are still unaware of the country. Those whom did know about the country however, almost immediately proclaimed Manny Pacquiao. The famous boxer is ultimately and literally the only, sole Filipino that has ever appeared within mainstream media. Making Manny Pacquiao a definite example of having 'The Burden of Representation.' Due to the absence of Filipinos within mainstream media, we are under-represented, and the perceptions given to us becomes purely based from the very insufficient information relayed through those that have the burden to represent such as Manny Pacquiao. This inevitably leads to a lack of understanding, or even a skewered understanding of minority groups, which can be detrimental.
In the Philippines we worship Manny Pacquiao as an idol, not just because he is one of the greatest boxers to have ever lived, but because he is the only Filipino to have ever been recognised within such a global, and universal scale. As a matter of fact every time he has a boxing match the crime rates in The Philippines almost always drops to zero, which goes to show the amount of support Manny Pacquiao gets from the Filipino people. Filipinos see their pride as central to their culture, and are very fond of expressing it. Hence why Manny Pacquiao is so appreciated and respected within the country, as not only does he represent the Filipino people, but he also gives them the opportunity to promote their pride. Whether it be through supporting his boxing matches or proclaiming his success and highly acclaimed stories, Manny Pacquiao allows the Philippines and its people to show their pride within a global scale, which leads to giving the country the opportunity to be better known across the world. If Manny Pacquiao had never existed, or had never been as successful, The Philippines would be much more hidden and unknown to the world.
The way Manny Pacquiao is represented within the media however is not always positive for the Filipino people, having a rough start in his childhood and literally rising to success from the bottom and having nothing, most if not all mainstream media that broadcast his fights such as HBO will always display a backstory of his life. In doing this the very pessimistic side of the Philippines is displayed, showing mass poverty and the very deprived, impoverished aspect of the country. This sole representation and perspective given to the country can be taken as a universal representation for the whole of the Philippines and its people. Which I have sadly experienced myself whenever I mention my country, I am questioned whether the country is remote, impoverished and most commonly used "full of slums". In reality the Philippines does have a serious economic and social problem in regards to mass poverty, but the country comprises of much more than just that.
In the Philippines we worship Manny Pacquiao as an idol, not just because he is one of the greatest boxers to have ever lived, but because he is the only Filipino to have ever been recognised within such a global, and universal scale. As a matter of fact every time he has a boxing match the crime rates in The Philippines almost always drops to zero, which goes to show the amount of support Manny Pacquiao gets from the Filipino people. Filipinos see their pride as central to their culture, and are very fond of expressing it. Hence why Manny Pacquiao is so appreciated and respected within the country, as not only does he represent the Filipino people, but he also gives them the opportunity to promote their pride. Whether it be through supporting his boxing matches or proclaiming his success and highly acclaimed stories, Manny Pacquiao allows the Philippines and its people to show their pride within a global scale, which leads to giving the country the opportunity to be better known across the world. If Manny Pacquiao had never existed, or had never been as successful, The Philippines would be much more hidden and unknown to the world.
The way Manny Pacquiao is represented within the media however is not always positive for the Filipino people, having a rough start in his childhood and literally rising to success from the bottom and having nothing, most if not all mainstream media that broadcast his fights such as HBO will always display a backstory of his life. In doing this the very pessimistic side of the Philippines is displayed, showing mass poverty and the very deprived, impoverished aspect of the country. This sole representation and perspective given to the country can be taken as a universal representation for the whole of the Philippines and its people. Which I have sadly experienced myself whenever I mention my country, I am questioned whether the country is remote, impoverished and most commonly used "full of slums". In reality the Philippines does have a serious economic and social problem in regards to mass poverty, but the country comprises of much more than just that.
Great read Christopher. Personally, what you said was spot-on. When I think about the Philippines, the one thing that pops into my head is Manny Pacquiao. He is an incredible boxer, but while he is well acknowledged in the sporting industry, he is in fact the only Filipino that gains and attracts huge media attention due to his success and achievements.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that the crime rate drops close to absolutely nothing, it triggers you to think about just how much of an important figure he is to the country as a whole. Since he is the only man being represented, a nation's support can be a way of implying that they want him to be displayed in a good light so that their entire country can also be perceived positively - as winners.
Overall, I think it's amazing how much media can impact someone's belief regarding something. What you said about people thinking Philippines as a 'poor' country made me think about people's assumptions about Africa. Many people think of Africa as extremely under-developed, 'dirty' and lacking in general, but it is only a misconception as media chooses to display one side of the story. Just like the Philippines, there is infrastructure, tall buildings and beautiful attractions that many are still unaware of.