F ilipinos mock themselves in many ways in the pursuit of self-promoting agendas. One historic incident happened on Sunday, June 12, 2011, at Queen's Park where so-called leaders of Toronto's Filipino community bandied together for the observance of Philippine independence day. A flag-raising was set. But before the solemn ceremony could take off, one organizer decided it was time for some "Kodak moments" with the dignitaries. In the meantime, the Philippine flag fluttered in the noon breeze down at the bottom of the pole, neglected and waiting for the photo ops to finish.

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PREROGATIVE

Trivializing a Solemn Rite

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

and National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC)

TORONTO – Please view my news video on YouTube:

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It has sparked a mild outburst from some viewers who expressed their take, pro or con, with photo ops, or so-called "Kodak moments", by event participants having their photographs taken with guests and other important personages.

Frankly, I was expecting more people to get enraged by this wanton disregard for our own cultural and political sensitivities by no less than those who have adopted Canada as their own. And the insult is more stinging and pronounced because they were born and raised in the Philippines.

I had wanted the Consulate, for one, to express its dismay over the blatant disrespect for the Philippine flag during the June 12 ceremonies at Queen's Park and call the attention of organizers, specifically the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), one of the lead sponsors of the event.

None in PIDC and the other organizations evidently know about the protocol of the flag, otherwise they would not have carried out to their fullest satisfaction the picture-taking with Consul General Pedro Chan and other high-ranking guests who attended the ceremonial flag-raising commemorating 113 years of Philippine independence.

By the way, contrary to protocol, the flag was hoisted so painstakingly slow and timed with the singing of the national anthem when it should have been raised briskly.

The Consul General should not have acquiesced, in my opinion, for that was tantamount to officially endorsing the faulty logic behind the instant photo sessions. It was "embarrassing," said one commentator, after realizing she had unwittingly been  carried away.

The "Kodak moments" pre-emptied what could have been a happy but solemn rite, considering that the June 12, 1898 declaration in Kawit, Cavite, consequently made the Philippines the first republic in Asia. The Philippines broke free from Spain after patiently and subserviently serving the monarchy in Spain for more than 300 years.

The first few minutes that could have been devoted to the proud memories of those days 113 years ago were so blatantly set aside, trivialized, for the simple expedient of having photographs taken with Filipino and non-Filipino guests.

I suspect that the initiator, a certain Amy Ada (from what I gathered, an Ontario provincial employee), had been so enthused by the presence of foreign guests. If what the program claims is correct that she is "coordinator, OPS Pinoys" (whatever that means), then we should take caution. She could just so easily trample on rules and precedent for her own personal glory.

I am not bothered if she and her friends in PIDC, notably its president Minda Neri, would spend their days being photographed with the high and mighty. But I am deeply disturbed that she, Neri and others could so conveniently sweep protocol in pursuit of their self-promoting agenda.

That should answer the video commentator who said: "And who does not want to have their pictures taken with a public figure? x x x  I do not see anything wrong with a Kodak moment also anyway."

Misses Ada, Neri and the commentator all missed the point, i.e., by engaging in what they did, they disrespected the flag, the very symbol of Philippine sovereignty; they insulted the Philippine government which at that time was represented by Consul General Chan; and they made a mockery of Filipinos and their institutions.

The flag had been flying at the bottom of the pole for at least 30 minutes, waiting for the event to begin at 12 noon, presumably the exact time it would be hoisted. I have not seen a sovereign nation's revered symbol so neglected and treated like a piece of rag left flying at the pole's base because one woman decided to proceed with her photo ops. No, not until now.

If it could be interpreted as an omen, then it is bad. To think that many Filipinos in Toronto at least, are trying hard to uplift their physical selves and their souls from the stigma or working like slaves for abusive employers. Where does respect begin but from ourselves?

Some guests, probably thinking Filipinos are never on time, came in late. That's another aspect that could have been corrected right there by proceeding with the ceremony promptly at 12 noon with or without them. The waiting gave Ms. Ada a window of opportunity and she seized it.

G uests had assembled under a tree near the rostrum and Ms. Ada, blessed her ignorance, unwisely decided to have a photo session with them, inviting presidents of associations to come forward, pose and smile their widest best. I took photos and videos knowing a historic wrong was unfolding before my eyes.

She wasn't thinking . . . if she had the mind. And neither was Ms. Neri nor Consul General Chan, who both obliged. Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, also complied, as did the other guests, perhaps out of courtesy.

In the meantime, the flag fluttered at the base, its hooks firmly secured to the white rope that would take it to the top. I don't know how to call the flag's exact position because it was neither at full mast nor half mast; it was down below. Maybe it could be called the inverted full mast?

Again, this is the first time I've seen a flag unceremoniously tied to a pole and left to wait. Does that symbolize our predicament in Canada? Is that how we ridicule ourselves?

At that moment, everyone seemed to forget that the only reason officials and guests were there was to commemorate Philippine independence with a flag-raising ceremony. But that had to be delayed until Misses Ada and Neri completed their photo sessions with their false smiles.

Lawyer Rafael Fabregas was a little peeved and he showed it by asking those in the picture sessions to return to their seats so the ceremony could begin. As if to stress his point, he quickly glanced at his wristwatch.

I asked him later if he had control of the sequence of events. He said he was merely a "reader" of the program and nothing else.

One video viewer, Don Azarias of Chicago, Illinois, could not contain his disappointment. He was correct in pointing out that among Filipinos "photo-ops reign supreme while the solemn flag-raising ceremony is just an afterthought".

"For them," he writes, "satisfying their egos supersede their sincerity. They put on a false appearance of virtue or patriotism. That's another way of defining and spelling h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e-s."

Jesse Jose of Seattle, Washington agrees. I definitely agree. # # #

For other stories and photos, please visit: 

1. http://currentsbreakingnews.blogspot.com/ 

2. http://torontonewsroom.blogspot.com/

3. http://timecircumstance.blogspot.com/

4. http://travelsthemes.blogspot.com/ 

5. http://gotchajournalist.blogspot.com/ .