Let’s answer the question that the title of this post asks in a different way. Should we be proud of the likes of Willie Revillame or other entertainers in the international scene who make a mockery of Filipino senses and sensibilities?

Take the case of Revillame. What does he symbolize when he is viewed by an international audience? He symbolizes arrogance, sexism, impunity to insult his fellowmen and general inanity. To expose him for what he truly is, can this be crab mentality?

Let’s take another entertainer, Martin Nievera. How do we perceive him? In the vernacular, saksakan ang yabang (sorry to English readers because this can’t be translated word for word). He was warned by others not to sing the National Anthem (for the Pacquiao-Hatton fight) in any other way than it should be sang.

He didn’t heed the warnings. Instead he sang it the way he wanted to sing it. Why? Is it being Filipino? No, it’s being Martin Nievera. When you’re not internationally recognized, singing the National Anthem correctly will just feature a Filipino celebrity singing the Philippine National Athem. But when you try to give your own version, just maybe, your name will be remembered, i.e. “Martin Nievera just sang the Philippine National Anthem;” especially when you try to give it a rousing ending.

It’s just the same as singers singing other people’s songs. They give their own version so they will be remembered instead of the original singers.

So when Nievera –or the latest one, Dessa– slaps our cultural sensibilities by making a mockery of the National Anthem (not to mention Philippine laws), is it crab mentality to write against it?

Sure, we may write about it in a stinging manner. But we were first stung by the insensitivity of these "professional and talented" singers.

In glaring contrast, look at Lea Salonga. She’s internationally recognized. Obviously she’s comfortable with who she is. This is why she doesn’t have to sing the National Anthem her own way. So we’re proud of her!

Heck, we’re even proud of Sam Milby, because here’s a guy born and raised in the U.S., but who’s really trying to master Tagalog and to even speak it without an American accent (hello, Martin Nievera!).

Yet, we’re not perfect. So, perhaps we perceive things cross-eyed. Nevertheless, think about this: what we perceive may very well be what people are unknowingly revealing.

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