The Filipino Sense of Humor

The Filipino Sense of Humor

Text Box: ERAP ON THE PHONE:

Erap: Hello, I will like to inquire how long is the flight to San Francisco?

Operator: Just a minute sir…

Erap: Thank you! (klik)

To

joke is to tell a story or short series of words spoken or

communicated with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by

the listener or reader. Here is an example:

Everyday in the Philippines (or anywhere in the world where Filipinos

dwell), one can hear different types of jokes. The most fascinating

part of this event is that the types of jokes that get the most

laughter (laughter being the intended human reaction) are political

jokes and jokes about their nation in general.

As a fact, the most recurrent subject of jokes in the Philippines is

none other than the ousted President Estrada himself. Often, one would

hear such jokes from Filipinos coming from the middle class and the

upper class. What usually happens is that a certain group of Filipinos

talk about anything under the sun then one of them thinks of breaking

the boring topic by telling a tale about a man with Elvis-inspired

sideburns Then, the group laughs cheerfully, unmindful of the serious

message the event implies.

In the simple interaction of telling an Erap joke, one must realize

the fundamental grounds why Filipinos seem to be so resilient and

comfortable even when the jokes are on them and even when the topic is

not a laughing matter anymore but a grave impertinence to their

society.

Nonetheless, others should not condemn Filipinos for acting in such an

agreeable manner even if they are supposed to be offended. There of

course, remain a lot of ...

... middle of paper ...

...n ultimate theory.

Filipinos cannot help but be anti-rational. By anti-rational I mean,

viewing the world as something that cannot be curbed. First there was

the case that their lives were controlled by other people

(colonizers). The second was that they learned to tolerate and without

question, endure life’s difficulties. The last is that they hold on to

the notion that a divine being will take care of them. As a

consequence, They became capable of being resilient and aloof when

they are made to be the subjects of jokes.

References:

Constantino, R. (1982). Miseducation of the Filipino. Foundation for

National Studies:

Q.C. Philippines, p. 3

Agoncillo, T. (2004, October 2). Filipino traits and custom. Onli In

Da Pilipins. Retrieved December 11,

2004 from http://www.rogersantos.org/filtraits.html