I’m a Filipino, and I feel annoyed when I see a Filipino trying to be as weebish as possible, trying to be one of those first-world cool kids. Well, regardless of race, many people are generic, but when you see a Filipino that isn’t generic, Filipinos will likely like that and use that as a source of pride.
I’ll give you a concrete example. Let’s start with entertainment:
Trese. “Woah, a Filipino anime?! How cool is that?!” “Finally, an anime that isn’t set in Tokyo but set in Manila!” “Damn, the Philippines is catching up, isn’t it?” It’s good that a third-world country like ours is getting its reputation—that’s a sign of cultural improvement.
And, of course, most Filipinos will use this as a source of pride. But there are other Filipinos who get annoyed by this, like my cousin. He told me: “Eh, just because it’s in the Philippines, doesn’t mean it’s already good. It’s only the ‘uniqueness’ that makes it good since no one has ever made a proper Filipino anime yet.”
And if you’re a Filipino who watches
Trash Taste Podcast, you’re likely going to be one of those typical, English-spokening weebs (who usually can’t speak Filipino properly), acting like a first-world citizen, having this “cultured” mindset, having this weird sense of pride. Hypocritically enough, I listen to Trash Taste Podcast, but I don’t act like an English-spokening (I speak English in real life), first-world, cultured weeb. “Weeb” is like almost an antonym for “normie.” (So if you don’t watch anime, then that automatically makes you a “normie”? Not really.)
This topic is obviously related to the whole “
Pinoy Pride” thing, and I know many foreigners are annoyed by it. I’ll give you a second example and make it brief. I’m going to use myself as an example: I’ve written a
novel set in the Philippines. A Filipino protagonist. I feel proud writing a story that includes Manila, Cavite, Lucena, Tagaytay, Boracay, etc., that no one has ever included in their story (because it’s always Japan, Japan, Japan!). Therefore, I’m annoyed at myself, and I shouldn’t feel self-conceited just because it’s set in the Philippines. “Oh, shit, a Filipino author?! That writes light novels and draws manga?! I feel proud!”
I want to talk more about this, but I’ll stop it here. I know there are a lot of Filipinos on this website, with their waifu and husbando pillows, and I particularly want to hear your opinions. But if you’re one of those Filipinos who get annoyed by my “overawareness,” then feel free not to comment. Foreigners? Come join the fun.
