Magpakatotoo nga kayo!

No, I am not addressing the title of this post to those politicians who keep on harping that they don't care about Charter Change or Cha-cha but those actions speak otherwise (they'll have their own blog post later). I am addressing it to the latest controversial figures to land on Philippine soil, Arlan and Sarah Calderon. The Calderon couple made international headlines recently for their legal battle to keep themselves in Japan for their daughter, Noriko, despite having being busted for immigration charges. It has become a cause celebre in Japan, with supporters contending that Noriko, being a minor (she's 13 years old), needs her parents to guide and care for her. But the Japanese, in keeping with their strict laws, denied the motions for the parents' continuing stay, and poor Noriko chose to stay in Japan, because she was still studying, and owing to the fact that she was born and raised in Japan, knows only Nihongo.

The Calderon couple just arrived last night, and I believe no one expected these to happen: the Calderon couple completely shunned the Philippine media, opting instead to speak only with the Japanese media in Nihongo. It's their choice, but frankly, I was shocked and pissed off at this show of utter disrespect for the Philippines.

What the f*** are they thinking? I mean WHAT THE F***? Why the hell would they do something as disrespectful as that? Is it a desperate, last-ditch ploy to shore up support for them from the Japanese media and the Japanese public? Is it a manifestation of where they feel they belong? Or is it just a way of communicating with Noriko?

Either way, what they did was tasteless, disrespectful and downright pathetic. They could have at least given the Philippine media the time to air their side, kahit hindi na sa wikang Filipino, just to have the Filipino public know their feelings about this whole thing. Or they could have, as one of my friends said, ignored everybody and went straight to the car or whatever transportation that was waiting for them. But no, they decided to give the Filipino media, and in effect the Filipino public, the finger (figuratively). Kung hindi nila kayang bigyan ng respeto ang bansang Pilipinas, binigyan na lang sana nila ng respeto ang mga sarili nila. For them to keep passing themselves off as Japanese when it has been proven that they are not, is a complete slap at the face of their motherland. It also made them complete fools. Bakayaroo, in Nihongo.

Why am I so worked up about this? Simple. I am, in some respects, a Japanophile. I love watching anime, I am interested in Japanese customs and traditions. I am also dreaming of going to Japan on vacation, to learn more about their culture and their way of life. I am also a member of an online community of Filipinos who love Japanese things. Some of the members live in Japan, and some have Japanese blood in them. But when this issue came up, many felt the same way as I did towards the Calderon couple. One of the administrators of the website, who goes by the screen name "Maneki Neko" (which is Japanese for "good luck cat"), said this; "That was very arrogant on their part. Tama si jen-san (a fellow member)...i-deny daw ba ang nationality?? Sino ba ang susuporta sa kanila dito kundi kapwa Pinoy din naman. Pano nila kakausapin ang mga yun...in Nihongo?? Nakatapak lang sa Japan ng matagal...naging Nihonjin na?? Wrong!" At least we know where our real loyalties lie. Kahit na interesado kami sa kulturang banyaga, at the end of the day, Pilipino pa rin kami.

Noriko will have to learn sooner or later that based on the laws that guide both the Philippines and Japan, she is not a Japanese but a Filipino. I doubt that her parents will admit that little piece of fact. Hopefully, she will trace back her lineage to her biological homeland. On the other hand, hindi naman natin dapat pilitin maging Pilipino ang ayaw maging Pilipino.

And so it is.