Three epiphanies: AlDub, the Pope and ‘Heneral Luna’
On AlDub
I must admit I am not too familiar with the recent media phenomenon known as AlDub. I just know they have taken the country by storm. AlDub holds the No. 2 world record of being the most tweeted subject, passing the 25 million mark.
Amazing.
AlDub’s fan base is unbelievably legion. The fans are, for lack of a better word, fanatical and diehard.
When something like this goes viral and tons of people take to it way too much, those who are not into it are bound to get cursed. I am talking about those who are not fans and who express contrary opinions about this new national obsession, who have been derided, booed and insulted on social media.
They have been called elitist, arrogant, too serious, intellectually aloof, and even anti-poor by fans of both TV shows. The adoring mob seems to have no tolerance for dissent, which is sad, and symptomatic of how fanatically intolerant we can be as a people.
There is something similar here that brings me back to my short stint in advertising. During those days, I would be so focused on a product that my group was bidding for, it was as if I built my entire universe around it while I explored everything that it was and could potentially be to consumers. I harnessed all my creativity to present the product to clients in the best possible way.
During those days, it would often occurs to me, in an amusing way, that my intense focus on and attention to the products I was angling for, was probably verging on idolatry. I watched as I allowed myself to be completely sold on the product that I would even come to its defense when compared to its competitors. My loyalty was solid.
Seeing the kind of adulation that AlDub is getting, I am reminded of the fanaticism that used to overcome me, to the point of adoration of strange icons.
I am not a conservative, especially when it comes to religion. But I cannot help wondering then as I do now if such a phenomenon could be a modern day example of the idolatry that played out in bible history and made necessary the first commandment which says, ‘Thou shalt not have strange Gods before me’?
I know that my musing is an over-reaction. But my mind is being playful as I write this. Can you imagine if some very conservative priests make sermons to admonish the overzealousness of the show’s followers while invoking the 1st Commandment? I would be amused. But then, it is something to think about, too, for some.
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On the Pope’s message about the homeless
My second epiphany was upon hearing the Pope say, when he was in the US, the center of capitalism and wealth, that ‘The Son of God entered the world as a homeless man.’
The Pope’s words shook me. Indeed, this truth embodies a lot of what Christianity is all about, at least my understanding of it. It tells me that to be a follower of Christ, one must extend oneself to include the poor and the disadvantaged.
There is a zen proverb that says, ‘Live everyday like your hair is on fire.’ This is the kind of passion I feel when I hear the Pope talk about love and compassion. It is like a mission call to mirror Christ in every way by spreading kindness full-on.
I have often felt that the true path is not about being in the good graces of society. In many ways, it means going against the grain of society’s ways. It means that living one’s truth will lead one to challenge and change the way things are.
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On Heneral Luna
My last epiphany happened when I watched the movie Heneral Luna. It is a GREAT movie. As an artist, I admired the details and the artistic intention in every scene.
Heneral Luna was a crazy idea that went against conventional wisdom. For one, history has never been a hot topic for film. In fact, people. in general, find the subject boring and predictable. There are no blockbuster actors involved. And it was not co-produced by any of the big TV stations and was not accompanied by massive advertising.
But Heneral Luna’s truth is so bright that the audience could not ignore it and ultimately, after some prodding on social media and by word-of-mouth, people supported it. Enthusiastically.
Remember the aphorisms, ‘If you build it, they will come’ and ‘Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do’? Well, the movie has earned enough from the box office to bankroll the production of another ambitious historical film, this time on General Gregorio del Pilar.
In my artist’s heart, the success of Heneral Luna validated and strengthened another aphorism about creative truth that I hold dear: ‘Jump and the net will appear’.
For the creators of Heneral Luna, it sure did.
