10 reasons why the '80s were better
The idea started on my drive from my law office in Ortigas to my home in Fairview, QC. The traffic, at 6 p.m., was heavy as usual, and I knew that it would take me at least an hour to get home.
I rarely grumble about traffic because it is, in Metro Manila, a daily curse that you just learn to cope with. However, I remembered that when I was a child, growing up in the ‘80s, traffic was the exception and not the norm. In fact, you could go to almost any point in the metropolis, from Quezon City, within 30 minutes. And then I realized that this traffic-free life was something that my children would not experience.
This got me to thinking about what other things — experiences, phenomena, culture, etc. — about the ‘80s were better than now. So I decided to list 10 things that made the ’80s better and my purpose for making this list was not to denigrate what is current but rather to remind all of us, particularly those who were old enough to experience the ‘80s in a meaningful way, of what we have lost.
It also might give us pause to examine whether the life that we are creating for our children is becoming better or, in some aspects, worse. Hopefully, it will energize us into bringing back some of what made our country, in the ‘80s, such a vibrant and wonderful place.
1. People Power. Simply, it was our country’s shining moment. Unlike much of what happens in politics nowadays, people power was spontaneous combustion, a potent mix of nationalism, idealism, religiosity, and — dare I say it — even love. The international community marveled at our ability, as a people, to overthrow a dictatorship and restore democracy through peaceful means. Unfortunately, the 2001 version of people power was a pale shadow of the genuine one in 1986 and served, ultimately, to propel Gloria Arroyo to the presidency.
2. Traffic, or lack thereof. Air-conditioning for our cars, which we take for granted as a standard feature for automobiles, was indeed a surplus feature in the ‘80s because — since there was not as much traffic or air pollution as there is now — we could drive around with our windows rolled down. My wife recalls with fondness her family’s Volkswagen Combi, which had no air-conditioning but which comfortably brought their family around Metro Manila. For myself, as a child riding our family’s Toyota Crown, which had air-conditioning that was rarely used, I loved riding shotgun, with the windows rolled down enjoying the breeze.
3. You could take a bath in the rain. Just the thought of taking a bath in acid, toxic rain water — a clear result of failure to care for our environment — makes one cringe. It may seem romantic in movies and TV ads, but the reality is, of course, decidedly not, with skin ailments and disease, instead of romance, being the usual effects of enduring the rain in Manila unprotected. But I do remember the innocence of awaiting the rain and actually bathing in the first downpour. In our home in Quezon City, we had a huge metal drum that we used for collecting rainwater, which we used for baths when the water pressure was low. Although the effects of the industrial age and global warming had already begun to undermine the world’s ecological balance, still, to my recollection, the environment was significantly cleaner than it is now.
4. Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Basil Valdez. Gary Valenciano. Martin Nievera. Ogie Alcasid (in the late ‘80s). These are musical giants whose music and artistry endure. While I have nothing but love for the burgeoning indie music scene, the musical stars of today pale in comparison to the ‘80s artists. Particularly when it comes to OPM, many of the musicians today seem content just to do remakes or revivals instead of making their own original work.
5. Michael Jackson. He was alive, at his prime, and his artistry essentially changed the musical landscape forever. Who, growing up in the ‘80s, could forget the magic of the “Thriller” album? Yes, I, too, moonwalked and learned the dance moves via MTV. Usher and Justin Timberlake are talented artists and perhaps might someday reach MJ’s levels of brilliance but, for now, they are minor leaguers compared to MJ.
6. PBA. We loved the Philippine Basketball Association in the ‘80s because of the legendary teams like Toyota, Ginebra, San Miguel, and Purefoods; and equally legendary players like Jaworski, Fernandez, and later, Alvin Patrimonio and Samboy Lim. Filipinos embraced the PBA and were glued to their TV sets or else watched in the coliseums because of the never-say-die attitude of the teams and their gritty play, as best exemplified by Jawo himself. One of the things that destroyed the PBA was the arrival of foreign players with questionable Filipino citizenship, as if we didn’t have enough good Filipino players. The PBA is making a comeback but is still a long way from capturing the hearts and imagination of Filipinos as it did in the ‘80s
7. Political heavyweights. The haters will say that this is just sour-graping on my part, but isn’t it true that in the ‘80s our political leaders had more gravitas? They were also better read, more eloquent, and demanded a greater sense of respect. Ninoy Aquino, Teofisto Guingona Sr., Rene Saguisag, and Doy Laurel are but a few of the political leaders of the old school who were inspirational political leaders — you could agree or disagree with their politics but they were great public speakers — and had the substance and brains to debate the finer points of law and policy. Few measure up to this gold standard of political leadership and I believe that the decline in quality of our political leaders is the reason, in large part, for the decline of our society in general.
8. The lost art of letter-writing. Before the Internet, e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook, people actually wrote letters to each other to express how they felt, share novel ideas, or stay in touch. My wife remembers hoarding and trading stationery. According to her, some were even scented and the more expensive ones were imported and branded, such as the Hello Kitty variety. Since we wrote letters and did not express ourselves primarily through text messages, e-mail, and Facebook, Filipinos had better grammar and English skills.
9. Coffee, or, at least, the price of it. I love Starbucks and Figaro. Seattle’s Best and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, too. Simply, I love coffee and tea, and while I rejoice at the choices that I have now, whenever I pay for my P150 latte, I can’t help but remember a time when, in the ‘80s, coffee would have cost, adjusting for inflation, maybe 25 bucks. So while I love my freshly brewed, non-fat latte, I pay in protest, knowing how truly outrageous the price is. Also, truth be told, in the ‘80s, my cup of Blend 45 with Alaska milk — poured straight out of a tin can — tasted every bit as good as today’s freshly ground and brewed Colombian blend.
10. The world loved us! This is a corollary to People Power. Do you remember the standing ovations that President Cory got abroad? Filipinos living in the US in the ‘80s will also recall how their friends, officemates, and neighbors congratulated them on our successful and peaceful restoration of Philippine democracy. With the recent Manila hostage incident, our mishandling and bungling of it before the eyes of the International Community, I can’t help but recall wistfully how three decades ago, Filipinos were viewed with respect and admiration all over the world.
Finally, you can agree or disagree with this list because, anyway, agreement or consensus is not really the point. The point isn’t about nostalgia either. Rather, I’m hoping that this exercise of recalling what was better in the ‘80s will encourage others to make their own lists and perhaps by recalling what was great about the ‘80s we will be motivated to bring those values back to the present.
As William Faulkner said, the past is never dead, it’s not even past. So let us dig deep into our history, recall what was good, recapture our lost values, and, God willing, bring back some of the pride and the glory of the ‘80s.
