Being a Filipino is No Joke

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Written by Tess Superioriad Baluyos

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 00:00

A few years back, I received a forwarded article which was entitled, “You are a Filipino if….” where it lists the number of things that makes us Filipinos unique, distinct in many ways. The list includes something like: you are a Filipino if you point with your lips… if you nod upwards to greet someone… if you smile for no reason at all. The list runs up to 101…

I want to add something to the list, and that is: you are a Filipino if you laugh at yourself. For example, have you ever noticed that most of the time, even in the midst of crises, Filipinos have a way of finding something funny about the situation, or about himself? Have you witnessed somebody tipped off… or fall off a chair? How do most Filipinos react? Laugh!!! And the ‘victim’? Well, instead of feeling bad about himself, he would compose himself as quickly as possible, and laugh with the others. I am not saying that this is a good attitude, because the kind reaction would be to feel sorry for the ‘victim’ and help him out. I think, however, that this attitude boils down to our unique ways, as Filipinos.

Now, individually, there are times when we feel so down, that we feel depressed for no apparent reason… that we are not in good mood. We want to strangle someone who crosses our way because we want to be left alone. This is the right time to turn around, shift the bad mood.. and what a better to do that than find something to laugh about!

As the Art of Taking Time to Live says, “Find time for laughter, time for letting go and filling the heart with mirth.”

Now, here is one joke, truly Filipino, that never fails to make me laugh. I admire the author of this. It is entitled, “Language Difficulties.” This is one of the best jokes I have ever heard. For one, I work for the science agency, and second, I am into communication field of work.

Happy laughing!!!

The Captain’s note to the Chief Officer:

“Early tomorrow morning, there will be a world solar eclipse at 0900 hrs. This is something that cannot be seen every day, so let the crew line up in their best clothes on the deck in order that they may see it. To mark this rare phenomenon, I myself will explain it to them. If it is raining, we will not be able to see it clearly. It that case, the crew should gather in the mess room.”

The Chief Officer’s note to the First Officer:

“On the captain’s orders, there will be a total eclipse early tomorrow at 0900 hrs. If it is raining, we will not be able to see it clearly from the deck in our best clothes. In that case, the sun’s disappearance will be fully observed in the mess room. This is something which does not happen every day. “

The First Officer’s note to the Second Officer:

“On the captain’s orders, we shall fully observe in our best clothes that the sun disappears in the mess room at 0900 hrs. The captain will tell us if it is going to rain. This is something that does not happen every day.”

The Second Officer’s note to the Bosun:

“If it is raining in the mess room early tomorrow, which is something that does not happen every day, the captain, in his best clothes, will disappear at 0900 hrs.”

The Bosun’s note to the Crew:

“Early tomorrow at 0900 hrs, the captain will disappear. It is a pity that this does not happen every day.”

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