THE FILIPINO LOVE AFFAIR WITH CELEBRITIES December 29, 2009 Most Filipinos simply adore celebrities, not

just in show-business and sports, but even in politics, school, work, and almost every other field of endeavor. WHY? It might be that we find in them that which we wanted to have but could not, in our daily strugglesbe famous and rich for more than the proverbial 15 minutes and one day. While all of us go through the adolescent stage of emulating those we look up to in terms of fashion, talk and mannerisms, far too many retain such aping habits until adulthood. IS THIS HEALTHY AND SANE? For some, maybe so. It isnt bad to try to better our personalities than that which nature has given us. But we should not come to the point of losing our originality. Holy men of GOD talk about imitating JESUS CHRIST. By far, this is the most commendable of all copy-cat variations. But then, we cannot be perfect as HE is [and such a far cry from it], while in this earthly vessel. And so, many are in a quandary and quickly switch the pendulum of fate to the adversarys sideto their detriment, their families and the societys. SO WHERE DOES THIS LOVE AFFAIR AND APING LEAD US? I believe then, our character shows our originality as a peopleour zeitgeistour being good copycats. Only a chosen few can suffer the ignominy of being a lower version, another version, or a local version, and still find joy in the ridicule. It has instead, brought out our strength as a nation. Indeed, few other races can claim the fame of laughing and smiling warmly in the face of multiple tragedies that inhabit the country like a laboratory, than the Filipino. Whenever we fail in whatever task or situation we decide to pursueoften imitating the responses and actions of those which we believe are far more economically advanced than uswe do not become psycho cases. We turn to our families and friends and find comfort and redemption in our close family ties and pakikisama. I guess then, our name comes into full circle, FILIPINO, from King Philip II of Spain, having its roots in the Greek word, Phileo or Philoslove. Love indeed governs our daily lives. We wear our hearts out on our sleeveswith passion. Whether we display it by screaming when we see our favorite movie stars and athletes, or working hard even on holidays or even without overtime pay, or just in being sincere when we lie about and idle our days waiting for chance as Juan Tamads. WE ARE IN A CONSTANT LOVE AFFAIR WITH LIFE AND ALL ITS TRAPPINGS, whether they be celebrities or real people. And this is what being Filipino is all about.