The great divide
Just came from a family reunion of sorts. This is a rant. You've been warned.
The adults --for any given value of maturity-- break the ice with mundane chitchat. How are you, OMG you're so thin, oh it's diabetes, etc. Then, smiling smarmilly at each other, they turn to the embodiment of their unfulfilled youth by introducing their children.
This uncle introduces his eldest daughter. 24 years old, graduate of University of Asia and the Pacific, now works at a call center, isn't she wonderful? He fully bypasses his other two children, I swear to god. They stood behind their father awkwardly, as if hesitant to remind him of their existence.
My mom gushes over her, as is expected, and then turns to introduce me and Gabe. "My daughter, fourth year in UP, and my son. He's entering Saint Benilde next school year."
This uncle, he gives us a passing glance and loudly proclaims, "UP, eh? You better watch out. That place is a breeding ground for communists. And Benilde, isn't that where rejects of La salle go? Ho ho." Gabe and I just stood there, too shocked to say a word. I was too outraged to even look at my mom.
"Thanks," my bro muttered sarcastically after a bit. He hasn't even stepped in the campus yet, and he's getting a taste of this shitty cake we call society.
It really isn't the daughter's fault. She was quite nice. But her dad was gnawing on my nerves. He asked what course I was taking. Because I knew he was that kind of person, I stopped myself from saying Araling Pilipino and said Philippine studies instead. There was this moment of confusion on his face, as if he was trying to piece those two words together to form a coherent idea in his mind. Then he goes "Why would anyone want to study that? What can you possibly become when you graduate?"
"What course did your daughter take again?" I asked politely.
"Medical _________." (Something. Not transcription.)
"And now she's a call center agent," I said, beaming cheerfully.
He asked my bro what course he's got in Benilde. Arts animation. "For kids?" this uncle asks, his lip curling derisively.
He proudly tells us his daughter's thinking of taking up law in San Beda, but he doesn't want her to because he wants to relocate their family to Canada. But maybe he'll reconsider. After all, it's always a prestige to have a lawyer in the family.
"I imagine Raul Gonzales' family feels the same," I said to Gabe, because I'm clearly a communist product of my radical, subversive University.
I dunno. Maybe there's something happening inside me. But as of right now, all rich or aspiring-for-upward-social-mobility people are starting to become incredibly, incredibly revolting. Narrow-minded and with no thought spared for people in the periphery.
I wonder if this uncle's UA&P daughter can match my knowledge on cultural and social theory, if she can measure up to the theories I've read. If she's as socially aware as I think I am. If she can be compassionate, if she can give two shits about the demolition of urban poor communities, if she's aware of how repressive her school is, if she knows her four years in university were geared into making her the best working gerbil she can possibly be.
I wonder if what I know means shit in the bigger picture.
The adults --for any given value of maturity-- break the ice with mundane chitchat. How are you, OMG you're so thin, oh it's diabetes, etc. Then, smiling smarmilly at each other, they turn to the embodiment of their unfulfilled youth by introducing their children.
This uncle introduces his eldest daughter. 24 years old, graduate of University of Asia and the Pacific, now works at a call center, isn't she wonderful? He fully bypasses his other two children, I swear to god. They stood behind their father awkwardly, as if hesitant to remind him of their existence.
My mom gushes over her, as is expected, and then turns to introduce me and Gabe. "My daughter, fourth year in UP, and my son. He's entering Saint Benilde next school year."
This uncle, he gives us a passing glance and loudly proclaims, "UP, eh? You better watch out. That place is a breeding ground for communists. And Benilde, isn't that where rejects of La salle go? Ho ho." Gabe and I just stood there, too shocked to say a word. I was too outraged to even look at my mom.
"Thanks," my bro muttered sarcastically after a bit. He hasn't even stepped in the campus yet, and he's getting a taste of this shitty cake we call society.
It really isn't the daughter's fault. She was quite nice. But her dad was gnawing on my nerves. He asked what course I was taking. Because I knew he was that kind of person, I stopped myself from saying Araling Pilipino and said Philippine studies instead. There was this moment of confusion on his face, as if he was trying to piece those two words together to form a coherent idea in his mind. Then he goes "Why would anyone want to study that? What can you possibly become when you graduate?"
"What course did your daughter take again?" I asked politely.
"Medical _________." (Something. Not transcription.)
"And now she's a call center agent," I said, beaming cheerfully.
He asked my bro what course he's got in Benilde. Arts animation. "For kids?" this uncle asks, his lip curling derisively.
He proudly tells us his daughter's thinking of taking up law in San Beda, but he doesn't want her to because he wants to relocate their family to Canada. But maybe he'll reconsider. After all, it's always a prestige to have a lawyer in the family.
"I imagine Raul Gonzales' family feels the same," I said to Gabe, because I'm clearly a communist product of my radical, subversive University.
I dunno. Maybe there's something happening inside me. But as of right now, all rich or aspiring-for-upward-social-mobility people are starting to become incredibly, incredibly revolting. Narrow-minded and with no thought spared for people in the periphery.
I wonder if this uncle's UA&P daughter can match my knowledge on cultural and social theory, if she can measure up to the theories I've read. If she's as socially aware as I think I am. If she can be compassionate, if she can give two shits about the demolition of urban poor communities, if she's aware of how repressive her school is, if she knows her four years in university were geared into making her the best working gerbil she can possibly be.
I wonder if what I know means shit in the bigger picture.