Philippines in the media
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 12:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
afunaBy coincidence, I saw two videos today that mentioned the Philippines. I feel a strange jolt of recognition every time I hear my country's name mentioned. It doesn't happen often -- it is very strange that it happened twice today! -- and most of the time it's unflattering, but every time I hear someone on a show say the words "the Philippines", my focus shifts entirely to the next few words.
(It's like being in a crowded room, not really paying attention to your surroundings, and suddenly someone says your name -- that feeling).
Anyway, second instance was in a youtube video, a throwaway line about sending money. And first instance was in Dexter, a throwaway line about the Philippines not having an extradition treaty with the US, which, oops.
For context, the Philippines was under US rule for a bit less than fifty years, (after being under Spanish rule for a bit more than three hundred years). We gained our independence shortly after WWII, but have retained close international ties since... sorta, kinda. It's not quite an equal relationship given the status of both countries involved.
If you want to be charitable, the Philippines is the annoying younger brother tagging along with the cool teenage older brother who wants nothing to do with him. If you want to be slightly less so, the Philippines is an annoying puppy yipping at the heels of its master who ignores it most of the time.
It's pretty much a given that our government will bend over backwards for the US. That wasn't as true with our previous president who liked to play the part of a tough guy maverick, but our current president is quite happy to go along.
So anyway, extradition treaties? Totally within the scope of bending over backwards.
I all but yelled and pointed to my monitor when I heard that line. It was a huge moment of dissonance, and it spoiled the rest of the scene (like a fart in the middle of church service), which is sad, because it had been a pretty dramatic scene until then.
It is disorienting to be reminded that this country I live in, which is very real to me, is only an exotic place tosome TV producers many people. Maybe worse: it's just a convenient name.
(It's like being in a crowded room, not really paying attention to your surroundings, and suddenly someone says your name -- that feeling).
Anyway, second instance was in a youtube video, a throwaway line about sending money. And first instance was in Dexter, a throwaway line about the Philippines not having an extradition treaty with the US, which, oops.
For context, the Philippines was under US rule for a bit less than fifty years, (after being under Spanish rule for a bit more than three hundred years). We gained our independence shortly after WWII, but have retained close international ties since... sorta, kinda. It's not quite an equal relationship given the status of both countries involved.
If you want to be charitable, the Philippines is the annoying younger brother tagging along with the cool teenage older brother who wants nothing to do with him. If you want to be slightly less so, the Philippines is an annoying puppy yipping at the heels of its master who ignores it most of the time.
It's pretty much a given that our government will bend over backwards for the US. That wasn't as true with our previous president who liked to play the part of a tough guy maverick, but our current president is quite happy to go along.
So anyway, extradition treaties? Totally within the scope of bending over backwards.
I all but yelled and pointed to my monitor when I heard that line. It was a huge moment of dissonance, and it spoiled the rest of the scene (like a fart in the middle of church service), which is sad, because it had been a pretty dramatic scene until then.
It is disorienting to be reminded that this country I live in, which is very real to me, is only an exotic place to
no subject
Date: 2009-10-20 11:14 pm (UTC)some TV producersmany people. Maybe worse: it's just a convenient name."No way, bb. Dexter is shot in SoCal, which has a significant Filipino population (including immigrants, first gens, hapas like me, and guys like my husband who grew up here, played high school football, and are so American that their blood runs red-white-and-blue if you know what I mean, even though they are of 100% Filipino ancestry). Maybe we're still considered "exotic" in some godforsaken-redneck-red-state corners of the US, but those places are few and far between. We're pretty much everywhere. &hearts
You know what I think happened? They were probably writing this episode around the time they were shooting the wedding scenes, at Burton Chase Park, at the far west end of Mindanao Way, in Marina Del Rey, CA. Check it out: [http://www.seeing-stars.com/Dexter/Wedding.shtml]. Marina Del Rey has many streets named after Philippine Islands (Palawan, Panay, Mindanao, etc.).
Far from just being a convenient name, I bet the writers were INSPIRED to use the Philippines on the script. As well they should, damn it. LOL
Also, Dexter's extradition comment was not in error. See my comment above. I hope this restores your enjoyment of one of my favorite shows. *g*
no subject
Date: 2009-10-21 01:01 am (UTC)*G*! It would take a lot more than that to spoil my enjoyment of the series, no worries about that; it just spoiled that one scene by making me focus on the wrong thing.
Anyway, I'm more, hmm, resigned I guess rather than offended. And I must admit: I didn't realize the series was shot in SoCal. The context does put a slightly different spin on things.