Dragons and Birds
Lipad-Lawin
China’s Dragon Airport and Bird’s Nest What is so special about the Bird’s Nest? Well just like what a friend who was raised in the US bragged, America has at least 7 stadiums that are as big as or bigger than the Bird’s Nest. Hmmm.
Bird’s Nest, Beijing, China
What makes Bird’s Nest so unique is not the size but its Chinese identity. It is not European, it is not American… It is Chinese! Bird’s Nest is a Chinese soup delicacy, which costs at least $30 a cup. It is created by a certain species of bird that creates a nest with its saliva. What is amazing is HOW FAR and HOW GRAND the Chinese can attach meaning to something as ordinary as soup. Kumbaga sa Pilipinas, it’s like creating a stadium and then call it “Sapin-sapin” or “Burong Talangka.” But no brilliant Pinoy architect has ever risen to promote our indigenous culture and express it NOT with barriotic-ness, but with a jaw-dropping, state-of-the-art facility like the Bird’s Nest.
The names of our stadiums are bereft of meaning and creativity: ULTRA, AMORANTO, ARANETA… Our theatres, convention centers are also meaningless: CCP, MERALCO, METROPOLITAN, FOLK ARTS, PICC. There is one theatre named in Tagalog, Lisa Makuha’s ALIW theatre. But just the same, no national identity. Just cute names.
CCP Theater, Manila, Philippines
I am reminded of Singapore’s Esplanade whose design was taken from a popular fruit among the Singaporeans—with the best varieties, in fact, being grown in the Philippines: the odorous Durian. In the Philippines, Durian is the mabahong fruit that only the probinsyanos eat (consider me then a probinsyano because my mouth waters at the sight of opened Durian—I actually think its fragrance smells yummy). But to Singapore, Durian is an icon of culture, progress, civilization. Same with Bird’s Nest, it is so symbolic of Chinese culture.
Espalanade, Singapore
Another cultural icon today of China is their new airport, the Dragon Airport, which is so far the largest covered building in the whole world and expects to cater to 90 million passengers by 2012. Why call it Dragon, and not Mao Zedong airport or Zhou Enlai? The Eastern Dragon, apparently is an auspicious character. The Chinese Dragon is a symbol of RULERSHIP and IMPERIAL POWER. Whoa. And the Chinese have well thought of themselves for centuries, as “the descendants of the dragon.” They even have a proverb that goes, “Hoping one’s son will become a dragon.” So why call their airport Dragon?
Dragon Airport, Beijing, China
Many things: One, it is statement to the world, that Napoleon’s prophecy 200 years ago has ALREADY been fulfilled: “China is a sleeping dragon. Let him sleep! If he wakes, he will shake the world.” The dragon is alive and kicking, ready to become once more The Middle Kingdom. Western nations beware!!! By 2020 at the latest, China would have overtaken the USA’s economy. For the first time in modern history, the superpower won’t be a Western nation, but Eastern.
In one of the malls in Beijing, a tour-guide explained to us a set of very big Chinese characters displayed on the walls. The Chinese characters have two meanings—the regular meaning would be: Cheer for China. But the Chinese characters also meant another thing, something deeper and frightening: it means WAR. The Empire of the Middle Kingdom is ready to wage war in economic and geo-political superiority.
One of the members in our tour group is a Filipino-Chinese and she rode one of the cabs in Beijing. And this is what the driver said to her: “This is already our time. This is what Hu Jin Tao has always been telling us—that we will never be slaves again of the West.” If a mere Taxi driver has a stake for the country—what about the rest of the population, whose “little emperors” (China still enforces the one-child policy) are being groomed to be “dragons!”
Tayo sa Pilipinas, hindi natin ito masyadong ma-gets. As Nick Joaquin once said, we lack “the will to empire” and “the daring to destroy the obsolete and annihilate the petty.” Japan has produced Toyota. Korea, Hyundai and Kia. Even the Malaysians have their own Proton. And India has Tata. Now China is producing cars too (Chery). In the Philippines, bibili na lang tayo ng Toyota o kaya Kia o kaya Porsche o BMW, sikat na tayo! But we will never think of making our own cars that will be superior to German and American cars. Tulo-laway tayo sa anumang gawa sa West. We cannot discover our identity that’s why we cannot discover our genius. Actually, may genius rin naman tayo—hindi ba nga gustong mag-tayo ni GMA ng call-center university at mag- manufacture ng supermaids!
Let me end with a sad story inside the Bird’s Nest.
One of our companions was able to buy an 800rmb ticket for the Athletics, where Usain Bolt won in the finals of the 100meters. Bird’s Nest was jam-packed. In the middle of that teeming crowd, lo and behold there was a Filipina! Haha. She saw our fried, and had some chit-chat. The whole time, she spoke in broken English while our friend kept talking to her in Tagalog. The Filipina is karay-karay by a group of Americans. Mukhang nakahanap sila ng makakaladkad, kasi wala namang Tsinang magpapauto sa kanila sa kalagitnaan ng Olympics. And among other things… in the midst of the spirit of citius altius fortius… the Filipina offered her beer, saying she was given an extra by her white friends. Bakit ba natin gustong gayahin ang West—kung gusto nilang mag-inuman sa loob ng Bird’s Nest, sila yon, HINDI IYON TAYO. Hindi tayo puti—ASYANO tayo. We have Oriental values not the values of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Sabi nga nung kaibigan namin, “Wala naman syang naintindihan sa pinanunood nya kasi wala naman syang ginawa kundi makipaglambutsingan dun sa puti.” So so sad… Nakakaawa ang Pilipino. F. Sionil Jose was right: “We are poor because we are poor.” There is a greater poverty that inflicts us, and it is the poverty of the soul.
Let’s not be surprised if the Oxford Greek Dictionary today defines the word “Filipina” as “domestic helper.” As Jose Rizal sharply pointed: “There are no tyrants where there are no slaves.” Sa Tagalog, walang nang-aalipin, kung walang nag-papaalipin. We cannot find the Dragon in us, because we think like slaves and therefore we are treated as one. Sikat tayo kapag halukikip tayo ng puti. Hindi tayo makatayo sa sarili nating mga paa—lagi na lang tayong nakasabit sa laylayan ng mga banyaga. We cannot have the will to empire because we are contented with dole-outs and free-loads. Mahirap makahanap ng dragon sa Pilipinas.
Manok puwede pa.
Hay…
The Boxing Match in the next entry. Paalam.
~ Lipad-Lawin
August 31st, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Hehe, tama ka. Pati nga kami part na din ng colonial mentality eh. Akalain mong gumagawa kami ng mga structures na hindi man lang ma inspire sa pinas? and to think, ang pinupursue nilang course eh mga call center at supermaids?!!! wtf diba?!
August 31st, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Grabe, nakakalungkot isipin ang mga sinabi nyo at di natin ito dapat ipag walang bahala. Kaso sa Pilipinas, parang walang pakialam ang mga tao. Siguro manhid na at pagod na. Isang paghanga na may kasamang pait ang naramdaman ko (kasama ng aking mga kaibigan) nung mapanood ko ang Opening Ceremonies ng Olympics. Ito na! Totoo na! Babangon na ang Asya. Pero saan ang Pilipinas doon? Ang masaklap dun, kaya naman talaga natin e. Pero ayaw natin sundin yung parang sinasabi ni Capt. Jean Luc Picard sa Star Trek: TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE. Yung pagtahak ba sa mga pangarap na wala pang nakakakita o nakakaabot. Pero hangga’t may pangarap pa tulad ng sa Brown Raise, may pag-asa pa.
Salamat sa masakit ngunit tamang pagtingin sa mga nangyayari sa daigdig.
Sana’y makapagtayo din tayo ng pandaigdigang paliparan na pantay o lampas pa sa Dragon Airport. (Minsa’y nangarap akong maging piloto) hehe.
-resplend3nt (in Tagalog: Sinag)
September 4th, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Kakaiba talaga ang mga pangyayari… at ang bilis! Grabe naman ang China! Haaay nakakatuwa’t mukhang ito na ay ang panahon natin ng ASIA! Ang daming kailangang bawiin… salamat sa blog, napagbubulayan ko ang ating situasyon at ang aking sarili…….
September 7th, 2008 at 09:10 PM
ay…tsktsk*sigh*…grabe talaga ang China…..you can really see their national pride….err…sana tayo rin*speechless gasp*
September 9th, 2008 at 10:50 AM
For the sad story inside the Bird’s Nest…
It saddens me that a lot of Filipinos are leaving this country for “”wants of opportunities.” Being a Filipino is an embarrassment for them. Have they ever wondered, was the Philippines ever proud of them?
After reading this post, naalala ko yung istoryang nabuo ng classmate ko after he read my “Supermaid” speech na nagawa ko dahil gusto ko lang, The Cinderellang Pinay story,
“Cinderella passed by at midnight, fell on the stairs, accidentally left a glass shoe, and hurriedly went back to work as a maid again. The sad fact is that Prince Charming never came back with her missing shoe.”
Prince Charming and greener pasture abroad are not the opportunities they are looking for. What they are really in search for are identity and national embrace.
Kailan kaya po tayo haharap sa salamin at makitang kayumanggi, balat-kahoy tayo at hindi hilaw o puti?!
…naaalala ko din po pala yung kantang Nilamon ng Sistema by Francis Magalona after reading this post!:)
September 14th, 2008 at 10:31 AM
meron tayong inventors pero di cla napa2ncn d2…they hve to sell their inventions pra lang mapaknbngan n tao…hmmmp
September 18th, 2008 at 03:01 AM
Sabog(lasing) yata tayo eh, akalain mo ba namang survivor philippines eh sa thailand ginawa!!! Kainis! instead of show-casing our more superior resources eh dun pa ginawa. Hiram na nga yung programa pati ba naman venue?! Dapat survivor thailand ang itawag dun eh……
September 26th, 2008 at 08:23 PM
naawa na tuloy ako sa bansa natin…
kung tututusin marami naman tayong magagandang ma ibubuga, sa natural resources at tourists spot… ang dami. siguro nga, it’s not in the place but with the persons who’s inhabiting in it…
haixt…….
more power pow sa inyo! i hope a lot of students will visit your site…
para naman magkaroon din sila ng awareness sa lahat ng nangyayari sa ating lahi….
November 12th, 2008 at 10:01 AM
If only there are clients that would give Architects enough liberty to design something of that magnitude/budget. Most clients lack taste. The main consideration would be: build something of utility with a lower cost.
Don’t worry. Once I graduate, get my masteral etc. etc…I’d give something for you to blog about in the future.
There are a lot of us that hope to make the Philippines a better place to live in
More power to the Brown Raise Movement!
-Senior Student, UST Architecture
March 25th, 2009 at 10:41 PM
hay…
April 24th, 2009 at 08:59 AM
Dragons are invincible, just like China, they are too. Looking at their entire being as a Chinese, you can see the intensive behavior that they must have their lives at stake. I mean, there is the willingness to sacrifice everything all for their country.
As what our national hero would utter that slaves and tyrants will not exist unless they both intentionally exist to create a very miserable country. In our case, everyone is accountable for this misery. We have low self-esteem (not all have) but some could possess this. We might have a slim fighting chances because we are completely dependent from the West.
What would the youth do if this series of unfortunate events can’t turn the tables at? Would there be any surviving chances that the youth can excel without any form of dependence from the overseas but dependence on his country? Are there any possibilities to ponder if we would have counter-consciousness with all the dictated Western social norms and mores?
These are the questions that we are to resolve while we can still see the light and the hope of our country.
April 25th, 2009 at 02:34 AM
Ouch!
Totoo naman talaga…Tulo laway lang tayo sa mga puti…
Kasi sikat na pag nakakapag asawa ng puti…
We are really dumb nice sa mga puti… That’s why they treated themselves as king here in the Philippines…
Gising na po tayo!!!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 08:16 PM
sinong nagsabing masarap mag-brownraise?
sa bawat upo mo para makinig sa sinasabi ng nasa pulpito, hindi ka makatingin sa kanya… nakayuko ka sa sobrang hiya.
sa bawat pagbisita mo sa site, sa entries na tulad nito, mapapayuko ka pa rin sa sobrang hiya.
pag nagbibiyahe ka, nadudurog ang puso mo sa mga kuwentong nasasaksihan mo sa kalye.
kapag humaharap ka sa mga kaibigan mong iba ang lahi, wala kang mukhang maiharap.
Kaya lang, kapag kasi nasasaktan, tumatapang.
Tamang nalalaman nating kawawa tayo.
Kaya ituloy niyo lang po!
Para naman nagigising tayo…ako.
Ang problema kasi, akala natin masarap ang buhay.
Kaya pa-easy-easy tayo sa lahat ng ginagawa natin.
Tanggap na nting mga unggoy tayo,
kaya naman wala na lang sa tain kung alilain tayo.
Pero, nung sobrang naawa ako sa bansa natin
Nun pong sinapok-sapok ninyo kami,
Nagsimula po akong mangarap para sa bansa
nagsimula po akong magsumikap at mag-aral kahit na wala pang nagsasabi sa aking mga magulang o teacher
Ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na makikita ko rin ang Pilipinas na naniniwalang superyor tayo.
Ang hirap nito di ba? . Kung ako lang, imposible. Kungtayo lang, parang imposible. Pero may awa ang Diyos:). ‘yun lang po ang pinanghahawakan ko sa kabila ng lahat…
June 17th, 2009 at 10:42 AM
ito ang symbolo na dapat tayong mga pilipino ay mangarap nang matayog para sa bansa