Filipino Resiliency: The Overused Narrative in the Philippines' Media
With the Philippines devastated after experiencing four typhoons
in the span of two-weeks during late October and early November, people are now
calling on the government to stop romanticizing “Filipino resilience” and to
create better natural disaster protocols. Though there has been governmental
aid to the citizens, not enough has been done; they refuse to push for real
actions towards climate change because the media labels them as having
“Filipino resiliency.”
Now if you’re unfamiliar, the term “Filipino Resiliency” means
that Filipinos, especially the victims of these natural disasters, can overcome
any hardship and are idolized for doing so. It implies that the victims don’t
need any outside help when they have “resiliency” on their side, but this comes
at the expense of their trauma. Glorification and romanticization of this term
do not alleviate or reward the harsh realities that victims face daily.
This further normalizes the vicious cycle of home displacement
every time another typhoon comes their way. It undermines their entire
socioeconomic status because the victims are now accountable for their safety
despite how they may not have the resources to survive. What’s even more ironic
is that Filipinos are seen as weak if they were given support or if they sought
aid. Since they are subjected to this idea of resiliency, it has also become an
admirable “characteristic” of Filipino identity and it is their “duty” to live
up to its name—anything less of showing resilience would be shameful to
Filipino culture.
Blogger
Filipino Resiliency: The
Overused Narrative in the Philippines' Media, November 15 , 2013 7:24AM
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/15/philippines-survivorsletdownbytheirgovernment.html
Comments
Post a Comment