Before this gets out of context (POGO este bago umAlice at magGuo), hear me out, your honor…
Even if Bamban Mayor Alice Guo doesn’t have a chopper anymore or even though “she’s just a simple farm girl” who “embarrassingly” claims that she “didn’t even have proper schooling” lest she unlearns that she’s filthy rich and she didn’t realize that going into politics requires unashamed and undaunted persona, she can still afford to buy us love. While the developing circumstances and most likely the inconsistency in her narratives put her in a tight corner, she might just have some kung fu skills left in her assumed “espionage arsenal” to get out of such a predicament and guo er go incognito all over again for a chance to run and hide to higher ground (read: run for higher office).
Now, sarcasm aside and before this further gets out of (our) hand, let us hope and pray that the “star witness in truth” comes out. We pray for Mayor Alice Guo’s enlightenment, as well as for the Senators’ line of questioning. We don’t want doubt to benefit if only to make it appear that it’s all part of “the counterintelligence thickening plot twist.” Thus, we hope that it’ll end up like Caroline Tiu and Bingo Mariano’s friendship and love story which proves that their love can’t be bought.
The idea to see it from Bingo and Ling’s roller coaster ride for a relationship representing the two sides in Can’t Buy Me Love TV series, it’s to point out how we can (hopefully) still reciprocally move on despite the impossible and challenging odds. Also, there’s that Irene Tiu (aka Erna) in all of us wherein, despite her unpretentious bitchiness and seeming shallow comportment, she actually makes sense. Her relationship with “a kadiri person” (referent to the lower class of Pinoys) is a manifestation of the possibility of a passionate love-hate rapport between outwardly opposing social strata.
Quite recently, that social division is further widening between Chinoys and Pinoys amidst the “Chinese infiltration issue” with the apprehension of undocumented Chinese nationals operating their business trade at, (well) what do you know, Multinational Village (here in the Philippines as publicly witnessed through Raffy Tulfo in Action’s recorded action in coordination with the Bureau Of Immigration). Raffy Tulfo happens to be one of the senators who cross examined the suspected Chinese spy, Mayor Alice Guo.
Some of the apprehended “outsiders” were fluent in tagalog, anyone among us would most likely assume they’re part of a bamboo network of spies. That’s not looking good even for someone who, despite the “lack of education”, gets schooling in the Senate if only to teach them that claiming to be Filipino is beyond the capability to “stick out a native tongue”. Chinoys are fluent in both… Although to learn or have the capacity to speak Filipino could also mean they’re so into having a better footing which they can imprint here given the economic freedom and opportunities compared to their own motherland. Consequently, quite a lot take advantage as well to migrate here instead. Why not, when Filipinos’ democratic and amicable nature is what dilutes the socialist complexion of the Chineses. The problem with this is when us pure Filipinos lose our sense of congeniality and become judgmental as to how we see the difference more than the comparison. On the flip side, we tend to compare what’s different. Simply put if we are to be more objective, Chinoys are Pinoys with Chinese ancestry. Pure Chinese are not Pinoys. Chinoys here are no different from Fil-Ams living in the US where they most likely get the same treatment from pure Americans. From that aspect, we’d likely not condone racism against our own. However here in our own “POST” (‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’ Territory), we don’t see it that way because we tend to be overbearing and condescendingly claim patriotic ascendancy. A big difference though is the Chinoys here are the substantial figures in our country’s commercial growth and solvent economy. It’s imperative that we co-exist.
Long story shorter than 148 episodes, Mayor Alice Guo can be a key figure in a probable spin-off of Can’t Buy Me Love, for yet another Netflix-worthy series adaptation of its more realistic approach when trying to procure love; “Can Buy Us Love”. While it’s quite obvious how, from Alice Guo’s camp, they’re buying time for all their justification and delaying tactic’s worth, the best “pro-cure-meant” that’ll cure the system and probably the dwindling relations which she can buy with her valuable information instead (sans her forgetfulness) is the amendment of her earlier excuses for the truth. As a mayor, she’s a Philippine government public servant for crying out loud, from which she can prove her nationalistic allegiance more than her attachment to that alleged “Made in China” implication; and what more can be “truer”.
Because the truth is, even the real Chinoys are generally being implicated and typecast as more Chinese than Pinoy. And they probably are, in every Oriental-Asian (OA) facet of their being, but the “real truth” is that after all the stereotyping, the distrusts, the discrimination, the divide and all, we can still turn from “Erna and Poop back to Irene and Snoop” if only to prove how that chemistry worked well amidst the social groupings and that it’s a vital component of a communal relationship between parties involved for the common good. “Ah yeah” we can do it even though there’s “Mang Ibe” among Filipinos. “At si” Bettina Tiu (and the like), she’ll serve her time and realize that crime does not pay. Whereas for what’s real and sincere that can’t be changed no matter what, realization can “Step(h) ‘n” and we can be more accepting. For Aldrich (all d’ rich) ones, may there be more like you who doesn’t look down on poor guys. If you’ve “Cin dy” TV series, “Wil so(o)n” realize that despite the odds, we can reform and revitalize our friendship.
ACCORDingly, in celebration of the 23rd Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day this coming June 15, let us “TIUs” not to be condemnatory and antagonistic but rather choose to be more accepting of any essential element to achieve peace. If it’s “Annie”thing, that’ll give justice, that’ll be “Divine”. We can be a majority shareholder at “GLC” if that means to “Go Love and Care” and be in good company. Let’s seal it with oneness, sa hirap at ginhawa amidst the “heaven and earth” difference there may be. Ano “PO GOgawin” natin? More of “PUGO” (Peace, Unity, Geniality, Oneness) actually; not just like quail eggs in chopsuey as ingredients within a representation of our diversity but for its inclusive nutrients. To Caroline and Bingo, to Chinoys and Pinoys, to China and the Philippines, to Filipinos and Chineses, to péngyôu at sa kaibigan, xièxiè, tosha, salamat for the friendship. Mabuhay with honor!
