I’m writing this blog after a long hiatus (sowee my avid followers), inspired by the Pinoy-inspired shirt prints at Bench’s recent fashion show in line with Philippine Fashion Week. These shirts have the words “I ♥ ____” printed on them, the heart symbol of course means love while the blank can be anything so Pinoy like Pinas, Manila, Rizal, OPM, bahay-kubo, kalesa, halu-halo, balut, lechon, adobo, and sampaguita (If you happen to be a foreigner who stumbled into this blog, my apologies; let google do the translation of these Filipino words for you :D).
After seeing these shirts, I thought I’d design my own private line of I love shirts, giving the Spoofs Ltd. a hard run for their money. Well, kung magustuhan nyo, aba just tell me at magpapa-print din ako para sa inyo basta iba ang kulay para di tayo mapagkamalang promo girls or dancers, haha!
I felt I could also go overboard by being not just creative but also critical and insulting; and in doing so, affix to the famous I love shirts all those nasty things I could think of about my country: Gloria Arroyo, her husband Miguel and son Mickey, Erap, the trapos, actors-trying-hard-to-be-politicians and vice-versa, Chavit Singson, Lolit Solis, Alfie Lorenzo, heavy traffic, overpopulation dahil sa walang hanggang pakikiaalam ng church sa state affairs at walang hanggang pag-aanak ng mga mahihirap, the worst urban planning, and the more-than-20 typhoons in a year, etc. Wouldn’t it be sarcastically nice to say you love them?
On a second thought, making a parody of all these sickening personalities and problems would not stay true to the essence of I love shirts, one that evokes sense of fondness, pride, nationalism and nostalgia both to the wearers and gazers.
Thus, I decided I’d better write on my collection several Pinoy-inspired stuffs that are not only positive but also significant (and trivial haha) in my life, as follows:
I ♥ TONDO – No explanation needed. Hometown is where the heart it. This is where I met my best friends and had my fondest younger-day memories.
I ♥ CHINESE GARTER – Be it limbo rock, one-foot, or simply ‘chinese,’ walang batang babaeng lumaki sa lansangan sa Pinas na hindi naglaro nito. Wala ring batang baklang lumaki sa lansangan sa Pinas na hindi naglaro nito, at kasama ako ron! Hahaha!
I ♥ PIKO – kapag meron kang chalk o batong de-kulay pangdrawing ng piko, at pamato mula sa balat ng saging o ng santol, tansan, bato o keychain, siguradong masaya na naman ang paglalaro mo! Caveat to parents then: Dapat hinila nyo ang mga anak nyong lalake na naglaro ng piko, hahaha!
I ♥ PAPEL DE HAPON – mura ng materyal para sa pambalot ng pulvoron, pastillas at paggawa ng parol, mabilis at mabisang pampapula pa ng lips, hahaha! Hmmm, huwag mong sabihing di ka nagpahid ng papel de hapon na kulay pula sa bibig mo nung bata ka?
I ♥ DIVISORIA – Bukod sa malapit to sa high school alma mater kong Abad Santos, this place is so dear to me because this is where my Lola Norma sold lugaw (porridge) as subsistence. Mula sa lugaw nabuhay ang kanyang mga anak pati kaming mga apo. This is not to mention that in Divisoria, you find most shops na bilihan ng lahat ng mura mula prutas, hanggang gulay, damit, tela, gamit sa eskwela, gamit sa bahay, kikiam, champoy, kiamoy, kandila, Christmas decors, laruan at kung anu-ano pa.
I ♥ DYIP – the transport for the masses kasi mura na, mahangin na, me libreng usok ka pa, hahaha! At aminin nyo yan, mas mababa ang rate ng holdapan/ snatchan rate sa dyip kesa sa FX, bus at LRT kasi bukod na sa bukas ang dyip, pamasahe lang daw ang dalang pera ng mga pasahero rito, haha!
I ♥ STREET FOOD – Whether it be tokneneng or kwek-kwek (inarinahang itlog ng pugo o manok), adidas (paa ng manok), isaw or IUD (bituka ng manok), helmet (ulo ng manok), bbq pork, dugo or atay, bola-bola, or manggang hilaw with bagoong (me matamis at me maanghang), samalamig (sago, melon, buko and other flavored drinks) it’s not Pinas without them. At kahit na ‘mura na marumi pa,’ as how we call them in Tondo, talagang masarap sila, hahaha! This slogan also holds true to carinderia or turu-turo :D
I ♥ DARNA - Being the Pinoy version of Wonderwoman, Darna is a local superheroine of comics, TV and films that has always fascinated me. Pag sumigaw ako ng Darna nung bata ako, ang saya kasi damang-dama kong katuparan yon ng pantasya kong maging makapangyihan, makalipad at makatulong sa mga nangangailangan. Darnaaaaa!
I ♥ DYESEBEL – Nung bagets ako, naalala ko, binabalutan ko ang buhok ko ng tuwalyang mahaba para magsilbing long hair ni Dyesebel, at saka ako kukuha ng makapal na kumot at ibabalot ang mga paa ko na kunwa eh buntot at saka ako kakawag-kawag at lalanguy langoy sa ibabaw ng kama na parang sirena. Parang engot hano?
I ♥ PASKO – Christmas the Pinoy style is something we, especially children always look forward to. As a child, it’s the time of the year na excited ka kasi during this season merong: school break, caroling, kris kringle o monito monita, misa de gallo (with puto-bumbong, bibingka cum mainit na tsaa on da side), pagsasabit ng parol at medyas sa bintana, at gift receiving anu pa ba! Yun nga lang, pag pinagtataguan ka ng ninong at ninang mo, nakakainis, hahaha! Love ko ang pasko kasi ito yata ang tanging okasyon na karamihan sa mga tao ay mababait.
I ♥ INTRAMUROS – kasi andito ang alma mater kong PLM; ang Round Table kung san kami bumababa papasok sa campus at pasakay papunta sa kung saan-saa; ang Intramuros Wall which we fondly call IW kung san madalas kami tambay para magmeryenda, magpalipas oras sa gabi, magkwentuhan, matutong magsuba o magpababa ng hangover, maghanap ng gwapong estudyante ng Mapua, Lyceum, Letran pati Manila High School hahaha; ang murang karinderya at inuman with our Gay Factory alumni tuwing wash day!
I ♥ MAHAL NA ARAW – Nakakamiss ang pag-obserba ng Lenten season the pinoy style kasi andaming activities: me Pasyon, Syete de Palabra, senakulo, palaspas, visita iglesia, penitensya, Salubong, egg hunting at syempre pa outing pag Easter Sunday!
I ♥ BORA – kahit pa mukhang me Alay-Lakad sa dami ng tao at halos puro mukhang kapitbahay mo ang tao twing Holy Week at kahit pa maraming lumot minsan ang tubig nito, di pa rin matatawaran ang pino, puting buhangin at ang night life dito. Kapag binalot na ng dilim ang islang ito at nagsimula nang umalingawngaw ang musikang nanggagaling sa mga bars dito, hudyat na yun para magsa-impakta ka!
I ♥ ABS-CBN – Need I say more? Pagkumparahin nyo na lang sa talent at mukha ang stars ng rival station nito, alam nyo na.
I ♥ MANNY – Pacquiao pero hate ko ang Nanay nya, haha! What he has done and will achieve in the sporting world is something unprecedented. Ikaw na kaya ang maging 2nd Pinoy after ex-Philippine president Cory Aquino na mafeature sa cover ng Time Magazine!
I ♥ REGINE – kasi sa kakatili nya, nagsulputan ang mga bata at magagaling na singers na sina Sarah, Charice, Rachelle Anne, Sheryn etc. Regine can undoubtedly put her contemporaries like Mariah Carey to shame kasi ang huli nagkandapaos na at puro bulong at hangin na lang ang boses pero sya eh di nagbago ang timbre ng boses! I know tulad ko, love nyo rin ang mga albums nyang Reason Enough, Listen without Prejudice at Retro.
I ♥ JAYA – kahit nakakaasar ang ugali nyang baguhin ang tono ng mga kinakanta nyang kanta sa TV, hahaha!
I ♥ LEA kasi me ginintuang tinig, merong class, eloquence, propesyonalismo at nasyonalismo na wala sa iba. Pag narining mong Lea Salonga, isa lang ang papasok sa isip mo: world class!
I ♥ NINA – Saan ka ba naman makakakita ng kahon na kumakanta di ba? Etchos! Nina’s style of acoustic singing, na huni-huni, pikit-pikitan, emote-emote na bulung-bulongan is something so endearingly unique. Nina Live will always be one oy my all-time fave Pinoy albums.
I ♥ CHARICE – For a young performer to captivate the whole world with her powerful belting and stage presence is simply amazing. What she lacks in height she compensates with her powerful voice. San ba nanggagaling ang galing at taas ng boses ng batang ito? Sa ulo nya? Chariz!
I ♥ ATE GUY – kasi wala syang katulad at walang kapalit sa Pinoy showbiz. Darating at lilipas ang kung sinu-sino pang artista (pati ang kanilang mga pelikula) pero hindi si Ate Guy. Legends do not die. Maaring makalimutan mo ang ibang lyrics ng Lupang Hinirang pero hindi ang mga linya nyang “Walang himalaaa….,” “I did not kill anybodyyyyyyy,” “My brother is not a pig,” at “Hayuup, hayuuup, hayuuup.”
I ♥ CORY – her tireless and selfless efforts in unifying the country, in fighting for the truth, in furthering her advocacies, and in preserving the democracy are so awesome; I honestly believe it will take a long time for the Philippines to have another hero so big as she. Maswerte tayong pinanganak sa era na naabutan syang buhay pa.
I told you the big pintasero and reklamador in me would prompt me to say or write bad things about my homeland. Thanks to these I love shirts, imperness, I am constantly reminded that there are indeed a lot about Pinas that I love, miss, and can be proud of…Ikaw, ano ang love mo?
After seeing these shirts, I thought I’d design my own private line of I love shirts, giving the Spoofs Ltd. a hard run for their money. Well, kung magustuhan nyo, aba just tell me at magpapa-print din ako para sa inyo basta iba ang kulay para di tayo mapagkamalang promo girls or dancers, haha!
I felt I could also go overboard by being not just creative but also critical and insulting; and in doing so, affix to the famous I love shirts all those nasty things I could think of about my country: Gloria Arroyo, her husband Miguel and son Mickey, Erap, the trapos, actors-trying-hard-to-be-politicians and vice-versa, Chavit Singson, Lolit Solis, Alfie Lorenzo, heavy traffic, overpopulation dahil sa walang hanggang pakikiaalam ng church sa state affairs at walang hanggang pag-aanak ng mga mahihirap, the worst urban planning, and the more-than-20 typhoons in a year, etc. Wouldn’t it be sarcastically nice to say you love them?
On a second thought, making a parody of all these sickening personalities and problems would not stay true to the essence of I love shirts, one that evokes sense of fondness, pride, nationalism and nostalgia both to the wearers and gazers.
Thus, I decided I’d better write on my collection several Pinoy-inspired stuffs that are not only positive but also significant (and trivial haha) in my life, as follows:
I ♥ TONDO – No explanation needed. Hometown is where the heart it. This is where I met my best friends and had my fondest younger-day memories.
I ♥ CHINESE GARTER – Be it limbo rock, one-foot, or simply ‘chinese,’ walang batang babaeng lumaki sa lansangan sa Pinas na hindi naglaro nito. Wala ring batang baklang lumaki sa lansangan sa Pinas na hindi naglaro nito, at kasama ako ron! Hahaha!
I ♥ PIKO – kapag meron kang chalk o batong de-kulay pangdrawing ng piko, at pamato mula sa balat ng saging o ng santol, tansan, bato o keychain, siguradong masaya na naman ang paglalaro mo! Caveat to parents then: Dapat hinila nyo ang mga anak nyong lalake na naglaro ng piko, hahaha!
I ♥ PAPEL DE HAPON – mura ng materyal para sa pambalot ng pulvoron, pastillas at paggawa ng parol, mabilis at mabisang pampapula pa ng lips, hahaha! Hmmm, huwag mong sabihing di ka nagpahid ng papel de hapon na kulay pula sa bibig mo nung bata ka?
I ♥ DIVISORIA – Bukod sa malapit to sa high school alma mater kong Abad Santos, this place is so dear to me because this is where my Lola Norma sold lugaw (porridge) as subsistence. Mula sa lugaw nabuhay ang kanyang mga anak pati kaming mga apo. This is not to mention that in Divisoria, you find most shops na bilihan ng lahat ng mura mula prutas, hanggang gulay, damit, tela, gamit sa eskwela, gamit sa bahay, kikiam, champoy, kiamoy, kandila, Christmas decors, laruan at kung anu-ano pa.
I ♥ DYIP – the transport for the masses kasi mura na, mahangin na, me libreng usok ka pa, hahaha! At aminin nyo yan, mas mababa ang rate ng holdapan/ snatchan rate sa dyip kesa sa FX, bus at LRT kasi bukod na sa bukas ang dyip, pamasahe lang daw ang dalang pera ng mga pasahero rito, haha!
I ♥ STREET FOOD – Whether it be tokneneng or kwek-kwek (inarinahang itlog ng pugo o manok), adidas (paa ng manok), isaw or IUD (bituka ng manok), helmet (ulo ng manok), bbq pork, dugo or atay, bola-bola, or manggang hilaw with bagoong (me matamis at me maanghang), samalamig (sago, melon, buko and other flavored drinks) it’s not Pinas without them. At kahit na ‘mura na marumi pa,’ as how we call them in Tondo, talagang masarap sila, hahaha! This slogan also holds true to carinderia or turu-turo :D
I ♥ DARNA - Being the Pinoy version of Wonderwoman, Darna is a local superheroine of comics, TV and films that has always fascinated me. Pag sumigaw ako ng Darna nung bata ako, ang saya kasi damang-dama kong katuparan yon ng pantasya kong maging makapangyihan, makalipad at makatulong sa mga nangangailangan. Darnaaaaa!
I ♥ DYESEBEL – Nung bagets ako, naalala ko, binabalutan ko ang buhok ko ng tuwalyang mahaba para magsilbing long hair ni Dyesebel, at saka ako kukuha ng makapal na kumot at ibabalot ang mga paa ko na kunwa eh buntot at saka ako kakawag-kawag at lalanguy langoy sa ibabaw ng kama na parang sirena. Parang engot hano?
I ♥ PASKO – Christmas the Pinoy style is something we, especially children always look forward to. As a child, it’s the time of the year na excited ka kasi during this season merong: school break, caroling, kris kringle o monito monita, misa de gallo (with puto-bumbong, bibingka cum mainit na tsaa on da side), pagsasabit ng parol at medyas sa bintana, at gift receiving anu pa ba! Yun nga lang, pag pinagtataguan ka ng ninong at ninang mo, nakakainis, hahaha! Love ko ang pasko kasi ito yata ang tanging okasyon na karamihan sa mga tao ay mababait.
I ♥ INTRAMUROS – kasi andito ang alma mater kong PLM; ang Round Table kung san kami bumababa papasok sa campus at pasakay papunta sa kung saan-saa; ang Intramuros Wall which we fondly call IW kung san madalas kami tambay para magmeryenda, magpalipas oras sa gabi, magkwentuhan, matutong magsuba o magpababa ng hangover, maghanap ng gwapong estudyante ng Mapua, Lyceum, Letran pati Manila High School hahaha; ang murang karinderya at inuman with our Gay Factory alumni tuwing wash day!
I ♥ MAHAL NA ARAW – Nakakamiss ang pag-obserba ng Lenten season the pinoy style kasi andaming activities: me Pasyon, Syete de Palabra, senakulo, palaspas, visita iglesia, penitensya, Salubong, egg hunting at syempre pa outing pag Easter Sunday!
I ♥ BORA – kahit pa mukhang me Alay-Lakad sa dami ng tao at halos puro mukhang kapitbahay mo ang tao twing Holy Week at kahit pa maraming lumot minsan ang tubig nito, di pa rin matatawaran ang pino, puting buhangin at ang night life dito. Kapag binalot na ng dilim ang islang ito at nagsimula nang umalingawngaw ang musikang nanggagaling sa mga bars dito, hudyat na yun para magsa-impakta ka!
I ♥ ABS-CBN – Need I say more? Pagkumparahin nyo na lang sa talent at mukha ang stars ng rival station nito, alam nyo na.
I ♥ MANNY – Pacquiao pero hate ko ang Nanay nya, haha! What he has done and will achieve in the sporting world is something unprecedented. Ikaw na kaya ang maging 2nd Pinoy after ex-Philippine president Cory Aquino na mafeature sa cover ng Time Magazine!
I ♥ REGINE – kasi sa kakatili nya, nagsulputan ang mga bata at magagaling na singers na sina Sarah, Charice, Rachelle Anne, Sheryn etc. Regine can undoubtedly put her contemporaries like Mariah Carey to shame kasi ang huli nagkandapaos na at puro bulong at hangin na lang ang boses pero sya eh di nagbago ang timbre ng boses! I know tulad ko, love nyo rin ang mga albums nyang Reason Enough, Listen without Prejudice at Retro.
I ♥ JAYA – kahit nakakaasar ang ugali nyang baguhin ang tono ng mga kinakanta nyang kanta sa TV, hahaha!
I ♥ LEA kasi me ginintuang tinig, merong class, eloquence, propesyonalismo at nasyonalismo na wala sa iba. Pag narining mong Lea Salonga, isa lang ang papasok sa isip mo: world class!
I ♥ NINA – Saan ka ba naman makakakita ng kahon na kumakanta di ba? Etchos! Nina’s style of acoustic singing, na huni-huni, pikit-pikitan, emote-emote na bulung-bulongan is something so endearingly unique. Nina Live will always be one oy my all-time fave Pinoy albums.
I ♥ CHARICE – For a young performer to captivate the whole world with her powerful belting and stage presence is simply amazing. What she lacks in height she compensates with her powerful voice. San ba nanggagaling ang galing at taas ng boses ng batang ito? Sa ulo nya? Chariz!
I ♥ ATE GUY – kasi wala syang katulad at walang kapalit sa Pinoy showbiz. Darating at lilipas ang kung sinu-sino pang artista (pati ang kanilang mga pelikula) pero hindi si Ate Guy. Legends do not die. Maaring makalimutan mo ang ibang lyrics ng Lupang Hinirang pero hindi ang mga linya nyang “Walang himalaaa….,” “I did not kill anybodyyyyyyy,” “My brother is not a pig,” at “Hayuup, hayuuup, hayuuup.”
I ♥ CORY – her tireless and selfless efforts in unifying the country, in fighting for the truth, in furthering her advocacies, and in preserving the democracy are so awesome; I honestly believe it will take a long time for the Philippines to have another hero so big as she. Maswerte tayong pinanganak sa era na naabutan syang buhay pa.
I told you the big pintasero and reklamador in me would prompt me to say or write bad things about my homeland. Thanks to these I love shirts, imperness, I am constantly reminded that there are indeed a lot about Pinas that I love, miss, and can be proud of…Ikaw, ano ang love mo?
