Baduy ba? I didn’t know…

Well, let’s give those people who call Tagalog PB readers “baduy” a run for an argument. What premise do they have? Perhaps, the only people they see reading Tagalog PB are their elders, street vendors, housekeepers, yaya’s, security guards, salesladies, high school students, mothers, grandmothers, carinderia helpers and the commoners, maybe then they can call them baduy or all PB readers baduy, for that matter. But are they really? Just because they aren’t rich and influential, they are already baduy? Pathetic, prejudicial psychos they are for looking down on those people. Well, for me if baduy is such bad a term, then these prejudicial psychos are apt to be called baduys as they are the real baduys!!!

I am proud to say that I am a big Tagalog PB reader. It’s my way of helping a rather struggling industry ( if it’s called an industry) in the Philippines — Pinoy Literature. I mean how can you not patronize books that showcase pure Pinoy talents? Can we at least show our patriotism in buying Filipino products? I know that we can never eliminate the colonial mentality, as it seemed inate to every Filipino (including me) but can we at least pay attention to Pinoy authors who only want to share their talents? Authors, who one way or another would touch our lives and somehow inspire us to be better individuals. Maybe these people who called us, Lotharian sissies, baduys, ought to be introduced to Ms Eve Motelibano’s works. I wonder if they would still know the word peace of mind after reading a story and not ask for another and another and another! Then we would introduce the works of Crystal, Nimfa, Ruenna, Fraerine, Kat and all LM books.

And hell, who gave them the idea that pocketbooks, Pinoy Romace Books at that, crappy and all?! I’ve learned so much in them. Some authors coined terms we never heard about. Some of them discussed issue we never dared talk about before. Some books teach us how to be better people, whether as friends, as sisters, as daughters and most especially as lovers. I wouldn’t deny the fact that some expressions I say impress my friends, them without knowing I picked those lines from some books I read, ahaha! Ain’t that smart, huh?

Well, if after the above mentioned reasons I would still be tagged baduy, then I don’t care! Who gives a damn care anyway? Heck, reading Tagalog PB brings out some of my most kept emotions, they gave me reasons to cry, to hope, to love, to smile, to be mad. These crappy, cheesy, eew, corny love stories bring back my faith in love and in life in general. They allow me to hope that someone out there was born for me and we will meet someday, somewhere and will grow old together. These books give me reasons to celebrate life, give me reason to praise God and be thankful that I am a human being - capable of feeling, thinking and loving.

Sige, baduy na kung baduy, masaya naman ako!