Is Pinoy Pride toxic?

being in the service of the Filipino isn’t exactly easy, especially considering social media has become the go-to source for people in search of answers, including so many varying opinions on just HOW Filipino we all should be. From Miss Universe to the most recent Olympics, at one point or another, all of us have exhibited our own versions of Pinoy pride. But then again, what exactly is Pinoy Pride?

For most of us, it is some kind of label – a type of branding that promotes our patriotism as well as our sense of nationalism. With both concepts meaning two different things, when talking about Pinoy Pride, such concepts of devotion and loyalty to the Philippines, when put together, creates “Pinoy Pride.” In a nutshell, Pinoy Pride is simply the epitome of everything it takes to be Filipino.

All good if you think about it; however, it is lacking one very important element – our national identity. By now we should all know that we Filipinos are a mix of races and whether we are of Malay or Chinese descent or Spanish origin, or even American, it is (whether anybody likes it or not), a part of our heritage and it is not all the time that Filipinos embrace such facts and by doing so, it has become a source of both stigma and prejudice that ultimately works against our own identity as a nation.

Pinoy Pride can sound positive and, to a certain extent, many times it truly is, but without its basic element of identity, we fall short of what we need to achieve and instead encounter a series of criticism after criticism, forgetting in toto the sense of belonging that is so important to our sense of loyalty to the nation. It is precisely how we see ourselves as a cohesive whole – as a nation of people – that matters greatly when we consider what Pinoy Pride truly means and must always include a deep understanding of national identity that should be a source of inspiration for the people, thus binding them.

In my experience for example, I honestly feel that one of the last times I fully experienced Pinoy Pride was during Manny Pacquiao matches when on that day alone, the entire nation stops to watch our Pambansang Kamao, a label so fitting for a national treasure. Manny Pacquiao bound the Filipinos so much that even the PNP reported at one point how crimes were not committed during the 12 rounds of Manny Pacquiao vs Mayweather. If you think about it, it is not surprising that the Filipino people call Manny the “people’s champ” and everybody felt like a hero because of him. Even my own family learned to roll with the punches as we labeled ourselves as Team Kulafu, not only because we seriously committed to watch every single match as a family but also because we felt a strong sense of belonging to someone who was a great source of inspiration for us.

It is along these lines therefore that someone like me asks how fully we understand the meaning of Filipino Pride simply because many of us have become harsh critics of even our own kind, while emphasizing so little on authenticity that attributes to hard work and perseverance being the ultimate test for success. At the end of the day, Pinoy Pride should be vigorously supportive by celebrating the wins despite the struggles, as this becomes counterproductive. I am not saying that we should ignore our problems but rather, recognize our wins despite them, as it is in this area that most of us can elicit our bayanihan spirit and show the world what we are capable of achieving.

Collectively, when it comes to our country, Pinoy Pride is about the people rallying together for our nation regardless of political affiliation, gender identity or ethnic or religious background. To me it is quite simple and it only takes each one of us to fully embrace who we are as a people in order to be Filipinos all of the time and not just some of the time.

Is Pinoy Pride therefore toxic? The answer depends entirely on how you and I understand our national identity. The goal of national pride is to create a positive result that every Filipino should feel towards our country and our national identity is the cohesive force that binds us together.