Blink. Baby. Blink.

Lately, it seems to me that people are popping babies out like.. I don't know. Something that does a lot of popping. Corn kernels, maybe?

Everytime I blink, there are new babies left and right. Baby photos have become a hot commodity among profile pictures in Facebook. Am I jealous? No! But to be honest, I am a little bothered.

For one, seeing old friends and classmates grinning ear to ear with their newborns in hand can't help but make me feel old. I mean, if they are of the age of settling down and having babies, that means I am too. And we all know that being "of age" to settle down and start a family means this: you're getting old.

Another reason is the economy. Okay, I know it is completely none of my business, and if people want to have dozens of babies they have every right to. But with the growing rate of unemployment and the worldwide recession going on, do you really think it's wise to bring in another mouth to feed at this time? Unless, of course, you can afford to feed a small country by yourself. In that case, go baby go!

Let me get one thing straight. I am a fan of babies. I'm not the kind of person who panics in the presence of babies and can't appreciate their extreme cuteness. I am, in a fact, a really devoted Aunt and I adore my baby niece tremendously. But despite my love for babies and the joy they represent, we have to remember that babies are little people. Okay, that sounded wrong. I don't mean vertically challenged people, but I'm sure you knew that. Soon, that cute round pudgy little thing is going to be a messy, obnoxious kid. Then, an angsty, smelly teenager. And finally, they will step into the stage in life we all fear... adulthood.

Babies are gifts from God. But maybe we shouldn't ask for certain gifts unless we're ready for it. You wouldn't give an 8 year old boy his own car, would you?

Baduy-ification

Are we Pinoys really baduy? As much I hate to admit it, I think we are. Watching the most popular noontime variety shows and listening to popular radio stations, made me realize this. Just listen to this: "Kelangan bang i-memorize yan?" I rest my case.

Now, the question I've been asking myself is, can we un-baduy ourselves? When people say there is hope for this nation, whether financially or politically, I think of it in a cultural sense. Filipino pop culture is just not what it used to be.

Despite my easily admitted hatred for Lito Camo and his "songs", he's not the only one to blame in our current situation. After all, the reason why he gets to roll down the streets in his Hummer is because the mass media tolerates and unfortunately, even enjoys the "music" he produces.

Have we stopped caring? Have we just accepted who we are and what we have become? Whatever happened to art?

It's safe to assume that Filipinos in general are inclined towards the arts. After all, it's difficult to find an area in this country that ignores music and the media, no matter how impoverished the place may seem. The irony is that despite what God given talents we may have, to fully utilize these skills could be tantamount to going hungry. It's a tragedy in its own right. People won't pay for something they don't want, so why not just give in?

Although there still are certain artists who continue to create and promote out-of-the-masses'-norm Filipino art and music, it's sad to see that a lot of them just seem to sell out. It's not hard to understand why, after all, artists need to eat too. But it breaks my heart to see how much our national standards have declined.

I truly hope that someday, we can reinstate the original Pinoy culture that we deserve and stop this baduy-ification once and for all.