Does this present generation of Filipinos, or even those who are the next in line, really care about who gets proclaimed as National Artists? I doubt it.
If I have to choose one from amongst our national artists, my choice would be Levi Celerio, our greatest composer/lyricist with over 4,000 love, folk and Christmas songs to his credit. I doubt, though, if our people even know who he is and how gifted he was. But for the young-at-heart Pinoy art lovers in our land, many of his songs, like Sapagkat Kami Ay Tao Lamang, Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit, Waray-Waray, Basta’t Mahal Kita and Pitong Gatang, still ring in our ears.
I would not have learned to like Journey’s songs if not for Arnel Pineda. My admiration for the Filipino talent may not have been reawakened if not for Charice. Like Freddie Aguilar, I consider Arnel and Charice as artists in their own rights. And I would be lying if I say that I do not goose bump feel a sense of national pride as I watch different international audiences give them a standing ovation.
The reason why I think that eventually, it will be the artist Levi Celerio who will be most remembered by future generations of Filipinos, is because of this suspicious beating or perhaps longing in my heart that Filipino patriotism is making a comeback.
If I were Mariah Carey, I, too, will be threatened by “brown monkey” Regine Velasquez. But should we care what other people think of us Filipinos? Perhaps. But what matters is what we think of ourselves. Are we now comfortable within our own skin, or are we still trying to prove ourselves to the world?
The bottom line is this: There will be another Levi Celerio if the goal of our artistic pursuit once again becomes individual excellence and not personal glory or riches.
(Posted by Conrad Tolosa)
Quote: "The bottom line is this: There will be another Levi Celerio if the goal of our artistic pursuit once again becomes individual excellence and not personal glory or riches."
ReplyDeleteAMEN, brother. Well-said!
I've nothing against Carlo Caparas but I don't think what he's achieved so far, is enough already to earn that prestigious recognition.
ReplyDeleteGanns - thanks for the comment. Conrad's final statement also applies in all aspect of life. Anything done with only selfish gain in mind is inappropriate and unChristian.
ReplyDeleteWhat's this whole "brown monkey" thing? No one ever said that in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThere's a story that Mariah Carey once said Filipinos are "brown monkeys" when she was asked about talented Pinoy singers like Regine Velasquez. I havent read or seen the actualy interview so I personally dont know the validity of her statement but the story, urban legend or not created a some harsh reactions from Pinoys.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, but repeating this urban myth only ads proverbial fuel to the fire. It's a bit bizarre to think someone who grew up dealing with the issue of being biracial would in turn call someone a "brown monkey." I did a bit of research on it and couldn't find any validity to the story.
ReplyDelete