Robin up in arms again

“Let’s be reminded that we’re already taxed a lot. I believe that we should not go into politics, but I think we should have a political statement. And there’s no better statement than Brand Pilipinas.”

Many may have felt slighted or did not agree with Robin Padilla’s recent comments as one of the judges of Pilipinas Got Talent, but there’s one statement with which all of us may agree.

The actor does best when he turns to his patriotic side. We’ve seen him play a patriot and brave soldier in the classic movie Mistah, and we’re going to see him again in the big screen once his movie inspired by the 2017 Marawi Siege helmed by Joyce Bernal and Piolo Pascual’s Spring Films hits the screens.

But, for now, the actor has declared a revolution and issued a challenge to his fellow actors and to Filipinos in general.

“This is a challenge; we’re not asking anyone because we’re not gaining or being paid for doing this. I’m just saying to my fellow actors to make good with our power to influence people. We have a lot of advocacy. There’s no better advocacy than loving and promoting your country,” said Padilla in Filipino.

He was speaking as one of the co-convenors of the Brand Pilipinas Movement. The movement is comprised of like-minded individuals from different sectors who espouse a “Filipino-first” mentality.

“Let’s be reminded that we’re already taxed a lot. I believe that we should not go into politics, but I think we should have a political statement. And there’s no better statement than Brand Pilipinas,” reiterated the actor.

His co-convenor, Amor Maclang, a PR specialist, further explained the ingenuity of the brand’s name. She said it’s a voluntary movement that has been gathering for months for the love of Philippines.

“This is actually a movement brought together by other partners from the private sector because the most important political act that you can do is not even voting, but is to choose to patronize and buy local. Kaya nga ho ito tinawag na Pili-Pinas, piliin ninyo ang Pilipinas,” explained Maclang.

Brand Pilipinas is a play on the words ‘pili’ which means “choose” and Pilipinas.

Both convenors agree that it’s about time we changed the mindset of most Filipinos by thinking big and not devaluing the Filipino brand. Top of mind is consciousness, which includes language used.

Maclang highlighted a word in the Filipino language that she thinks devalues a Filipino’s worth. She made a precise and cutting point when she noted that the use of ‘lang’ (just) in a sentence such as “Homemade lang” or “Local lang” already preconditions a limited or sub-par standard. She calls on people to drop “lang.”

Robin, whose glitzy world of showbiz is infested with top foreign brands, calls on his colleagues to take up the challenge just by starting to be Filipino-brand conscious.

He walked the talk during the launch when he wore pieces made in the Philippines. He paired his Philippine jacket designed with the colors of the Philippine flag with a malong, a traditional tube skirt made of handwoven or machine-made multi-colored cloth with various geometric and floral patterns. He accented his look with a salakot, a wide-brimmed hat made from interwoven rattan or reeds and colorful beaded neckpiece. He was basically wearing the whole of the Philippines.

When this writer asked him if he was going to totally ditch foreign brands, he clarified certain things.

“Brand Pilipinas has a lot of traces from the different cultures that came in.

Our country was named after a Spanish King. We were under their rule for quite a long time, then came the Americans. After them, the Japanese. I, myself, have Spanish blood.

What I’m saying is we should promote products and ideas from the Philippines, which we all know is a mix of cultures,” noted the actor.

He ended by saying that everyone has a choice and he hopes that Filipinos would choose better.

“That’s why we call it a revolution because it’s a struggle. You’ll get information, inspiration and education from us, but the struggle will come from you. We’re not going to stop. We know it’s not going to be easy, but this is not a ningas cogon effort. We’re very determined with Brand Pilipinas,” he ended.

For a change, when Robin speaks of being a patriot, we all agree he’s put on a good face.