The best and the worst in us

The fight may have been short, but Filipinos are still busy milking it for action, adjectives, color and humor. The truth is Manny Pacquiao has certainly brought out the best and the worst in all of us.

Unlike the years past when our “crab mentality” sat at ringside, Filipinos have finally overcome their lack of “faith” and unwillingness to believe that Filipinos can win, can succeed and can consistently dominate, even on the top of the international canvas. Now they are beginning to believe that others can and will follow.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we finally have our own “Hero” and not some Amerasian or Eurasian beauty queens, athletes or singers who in reality are not genuine Filipinos.

The “worst in us” are the politicians who like crabs rushing to tidal pools, have decided to take the shortcut by buying their way into seats around the international canvas in the hope of momentary glory and the orgy of the rich and powerful.

Pacquiao brings out the best in us by showing how a “kargador” (stevedore) or a “magtitinapay” (a baker) can climb out of poverty, cross unseen barriers and boundaries, and dominate a sport and its commerce. The “best in us” recognize that talent and determination and honor it by setting aside class boundaries, the “best in us” share this determination by being OFWs, being entrepreneurs in the worst of times, by believing in our dreams when there is no longer any institution in government we can totally believe in.

“The best in us” welcome the sincerity of a native son as he sings “Pilipino, Pilipino ang lahi ko”, “the worst in us”, fight over how a singer should sing the national anthem.

Pacquiao has revived our spirit of celebration, thanksgiving and merriment. But he has also brought out “the worst in us” when we mock, ridicule, lampoon and arrogantly belittle the great fighters that Manny vanquished. Filipinos recklessly and arrogantly abused Ricky Hatton in his defeat with text messages and jokes all over Philippine media.

Somehow many of us forget the humility, honor and respect that were shown by those defeated by Filipino boxers. One even waved the Philippine Flag in admiration of a nation and a people who were “so nice”. “The worst in us” never admit defeat. we always declare that we were cheated or that the opponent was a dirty fighter. So it was no surprise that the worst in us, displayed total disrespect for the vanquished enemy.

How will our people learn to be honorable and compassionate in victory when members of media try their best to be clowns at other peoples’ expense? Someone texted me: “Easy lang Kuya Cits; celebrate lang kasi despite all of the problems in our country, may reason to be proud tayo.”

I guess we really have a literacy problem in the nation when people don’t know the distinction between being proud and being filled with pride. One is about honoring while the other is dishonoring.

Un-fitness first

Whoever owns the chain of “Fitness First”, it may be to their advantage and well being to look into complaints of technical misrepresentation on the part of their advocates or “solicitors”.

It seems that several clients have started to compare notes about the chain and discovered a pattern of enlistment and eventual harassment. From what I’ve gathered, clients are enticed to join the club using the quarterly approach or “try it out for three months” sales pitch. This seemingly harmless offer is so short term that most people sign up on the spot.

To further reduce the stress of signing up, the newbies are encouraged to pay with their credit card, which takes away the resistance that comes with parting with cash.

Unfortunately some of those who don’t go beyond the three-month period reportedly discovered that they actually signed up for a 12-month contract when they received collection notices for the unused and unpaid portions of their fitness program. The letter, which is the standard collection notice, threatens legal action or referral to a collector/lawyer.

According to some complaints, those who used their credit cards ultimately had to change cards or file an unauthorized deductions report because they were unaware that the fine print in the contract tied them to a 12-month term and not just the three-month trial period.

 From where I’m sitting we all know that you’re suppose to read the fine print. If they did, the unhappy customers would have realized that they were suppose to notify the company of their decision to discontinue (that’s my guess). In fairness to Fitness First, I have not heard their side of the story, and if this is a first for them, then perhaps it would be a good idea to check on who has been recruiting, how they recruit and who has been sending out those nasty collection notices.

Personally, those letters make more enemies than friends.