At the risk of sounding shallow, celebrities especially those from the Philippines have unwittingly aided the Filipino Americans in diminishing that annoying hindrance we call Generation Gap. As much as I would hate to admit it, but one of the more effective instrument available to Filipino Americans in crossing cultural gap is none other than the "idiot box." How so? Well, as a case in point, I know of a Filipino mother and her teen age daughter who cannot agree on anything. Soon after a vacation to Manila, the two found a common ground: they both liked watching VCD movies from the Philippines. Because of the movies, the teen age daughter also took more interest in the Philippine culture and lifestyle. It seems trivial but it is a start.
If art imitates life, the Philippine cinema is one medium we hope the artists hold true. Most likely, the artist themselves can barely grasp the magnitude of the role they play among Filipino Americans. How many of them fully realize the broad extent of emotional havoc their movies or shows can evoke.
In Filipino movies, the viewers get to see places they probably have not laid eyes on for years. The viewers get a virtual visit to familiar places such as the main post office in Manila, Makati streets such as Buendia, and favorite haunts like the Mega Mall. It was through the movies that I first caught a glimpse of Mount Mayon, the most perfectly cone-shaped volcano in the world, was in the movie of Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto, entitled "Kailangan Kita," (I Need You). One would have to be made of stone, if they could not feel an iota of anywhere from curiosity to nostalgia.
It is astounding when young Filipino Americans who seem to exist in a world of their own can be reachable once one comments how cute the cinematic "love team" of Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa are. Mind you, not just the girls respond, the boys do as well.
Other than the movies, in real life, for the past two years, Chicago has been bombarded by stars performing in live concerts. In the 1980s, we count ourselves lucky to be able to get the iconic Asian songbird Filipina singer Pilita Corales to make a stopover in Chicago long enough to sing for her lonely "kababayans." In the last three years, we have been graced by the enduring talents of the likes of Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano. This year alone we have already seen Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma, Vina Morales, Ay Ay De Las Alas and Aga Muhlach. Matinee screen idol Aga in a concert? Who cares if the man can really sing! He simply brought with him the illusion of home on stage. Amid the teeming screams, who can actually hear him anyway?
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