Is 'Alaskahan' Dead?

 

On January of 2011, I wrote a piece here on Alaskahan and defined it as a form of art, where one can describe something with wit without insulting the other person

I saw myself as someone who was pretty good at this area. I guess it was one of the main reasons why I became ‘one of the boys,’ as people called it, when I was younger because I can keep that show going even with a few rounds of beer. Hanging out with buddies usually meant alaskahan time. I always saw alaskahan as something part of the Filipino culture, something that is in our blood.  It was like a tradition that was very Filipino.

 I’m an X-er, so I come from an era where jokes were full of smart-shaming, fat-shaming, slut-shaming, and all kinds of shaming done for the sake of comedy. I did quite a number of jokes under some of those ‘shaming’ categories, but on the whole, I think I like the fact that many styles of jokes from that era are over. It is time to change a bit. However…. I wonder, is alaskahan dead?             

It is 2024, and we are in a whole different time. It has been decades ago since my days of youth. Technology has advanced dramatically. The young ones are now what they call ‘woke,’ which I am all for. People are more inclusive now, and it is not cool to offend people. The cancel culture is up in arms for that, and with these new ways of ours, where does alaskahan fall? Coming from the old rules of wit, I found myself wondering. I like that play. I like that skill. Yes. I do think alaskahan is a skill because it works with association and indirectness. Being direct does not involve the alaska feature, and shaming is a thing of the past.

I ask this question because I saw a photo of a famous Olympian who the whole country shows off with pride, rightfully so, wear a cropped shirt that seemed like cloning the sense of style of his girlfriend. A famous political analyst called it ‘Chloe-ned,’ doing some word play with the name of the famous Olympian’s girlfriend. I thought it was witty, but the public figure’s post was bombarded with angry comments, defending the Olympian and his sense of style. And in my world of alaskahan during my time, what was posted would simply be under the category of ‘fun.’

So, is alaskahan dead? Do people get offended easily that we need to watch every little thing we say? Let's say, I have questions about the pronoun ‘they’ being used as individuals because we just want to understand this more, and if I ask my questions in a fun or witty way, will  I be attacked? I hope not, and now as I think even more, I don’t think so. Filipinos make the funniest memes, can still give very humorous comebacks, and we are still able to laugh at ourselves. I saw this famous comedian, Ray Sabayton Jr., wear a cropped top to show humor, but far from an insult, to poke some fun on the shirt of the famous Olympian I was talking about. 

I think alaskahan is still very much alive. It just won’t tolerate a form of shaming any longer. So as we get smarter with our ways, I guess comedy will have to get smarter with it. OK. I'm all for that. 

So, to answer that question: "Is alaskahan dead?"  I feel the answer to that is a big NO, not at all. It just got wiser and wittier. 

    

The Culture of Corruption

Where does one begin when talking about corruption in the Philippines?

Maybe we should begin with the acronym SOP. In the world of corruption, the term SOP, which means Standard Operating Procedure, means kickback. Since the ‘90s, 10% of each project would go to the highest public official of the local government. So nowadays, a project that may cost P1 Billion is a quick and easy P100Million for a mayor of a local unit. This practice is widely embraced that when I was thinking of joining a group of billboard makers, SOP was an acronym that was thrown around with no hesitation. No one seemed to think it was odd. The practice was accepted.

I heard a story of foreign investors who wanted to invest in bridges and flyovers in some place in the country. These investors are not greenhorns in the world of corruption, so they set aside some money to give to the politicians. What these foreign investors did not know was the standard 10% that should be given to the highest official--SOP. SOP talks can go as far as investors negotiating expenses to these politicians, and politicians easily suggesting, “Gawin nyo nalang sub-standard (Just make it sub-standard).”  In the end, a P4 Billion project is P400,000,000 to the pockets of the high official. Sometimes this may go as high as 20% or even 40% of the proposed budget.

Corruption in the Philippines is a variety of graft, cronyism, bribery, vote buying, down to human rights violation and a total disobedience to the laws of the land.

I remember in the ‘90s, when I, together with my siblings, opened a handicraft business named Hirang. I went to the municipal hall to register the name of the business. One man approached me and said, Ako na bahala dyan, ma’am. P1000 lang ma’am. Initial payment (Leave this to me, ma’am. P1000 only for the initial payment).” I didn’t think anything of it. No clue that this man was attempting to do a corrupt act. So I answered, “Sige,po! Paki pirmahan nalang po itong cash voucher ko para alam ko kung sino hahanapin ko pag balik ko (Okay! Please just sign this cash voucher, so that I know who to look for when I come back).” The man refused. I wondered. He directed me to another woman who also asked me for money. I again asked her to sign my cash voucher. She again refused. I went home without really being able to accomplish anything. I told my parents what happened, and they started to laugh. “That was it. That’s a form of corruption,” both of them explained. “Don’t allow it,” they added. So I went back for the second time, the third time, the fourth. I was asking for help. This time, no one wanted to help me. They saw me walking around with my cash voucher. Until finally, one gave in and helped me register the name.

Yes. It’s difficult to fight corruption, but we have to. We cannot look away anymore as if these things are not happening in our country. Because the longer we look away, the more abusive they get. There are cases where these corrupt officials approach start-ups in exchange of  official receipts, promising these start-up businesses millions, or even billions. Because this is easy money, and usually these entrepreneurs are fresh graduates, hungry for success, they say 'yes.'  Just like what happened to the Pharmally case at the height of the pandemic. From kickbacks to SOPs of 10% to as high as 40%, to laws and policies not being enforced, to human rights being violated, and now a loophole in the law, allowing foreign nationals to own land in the Philippines. A loophole that even allowed a foreign national with a Chinese passport and an alias to run for mayor.

 If we continue to look away, the culture of corruption will not only continue, it will also escalate.

 Now, the good news.

Although they are not many yet, we have seen good people emerge. There is The Young Guns in congress, as well as Mayors for Good Governance led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong. There are Congressman Jinky Luistro, Mayor Vico Sotto, and others, fortunately. It seems like the good ones are starting from the bottom. I say that’s a good place to start.

And for the rest of us, I suggest we keep our eyes focused on our public officials, on our government. Don’t look away. They need to know that we are watching them, and we need to know who we should vote in 2025.

 

 Sources:

A Look at how Corruption Works in the Philippines

By Raymond A. Abrea

https://business.inquirer.net/390650/a-look-at-how-corruption-works-in-the-philippines

Facts First of Christian Esguerra with guest Winnie Monsod

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3rqyZ_oNoI             

Rappler

 JC Gotinga with guest Mayor Vico Sotto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qJA3XC5Qh8

 

The ‘SOP’ Malady

By Danilo S. Venida

https://opinion.inquirer.net/72522/the-sop-malady

 

Who are they? Meet The Young Guns of the House

By Ellson Quismorio

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/12/who-are-they-meet-the-young-guns-of-the-house

Mayors Unite for Good Governance

By The Municipality of Jagna              

https://jagna.gov.ph/look-mayors-unite-for-good-governance-learning-session-illuminates-national-budget-digitalization-and-anti-corruption-strategies/