Filipino Tunnel Vision

Editors:

We take umbrage to Alex Tizon's article on the Philippines (Pacific, Nov. 18). He subjectively wrote only about one side of the country, i.e. the gloom and doom. Is this good journalism? We think not.

The fact that Tizon chose to ignore the wonderful side of our native land is rather upsetting. He ignored everything positive.

Tizon covered the subject of schools, and used up a lot of space on some provincial elementary school. He failed to expound on the great universities and colleges like the University of the Philippines, which has produced many prominent lawyers, doctors, engineers, diplomats, etc., and the University of Santo Tomas, one of the oldest and best in the world. He didn't mention the many private schools in Manila and the suburbs that are as good, if not better, as their counterparts in the U.S., such as Ateneo University (a Jesuit school), De LaSalle (a Christian Brothers school), San Augustin (a Dominican school), St. Paul, Assumption, Maryknoll, etc.

Tizon spent some time in Manila and Makati; yet he didn't see how these two cities are as cosmopolitan as can be. Where can you eat dinner and dance to live band/orchestra music every night of the week? We'll tell you - most every place in Manila and Makati. You can find the best restaurants and hotels there. Men and women dress to the hilt in these places. No blue jeans and tank tops. Only the finest dresses for the ladies and smartly-tailored Barongs (Philippine dress shirt) for the gentlemen. And the food - from the most delectable steaks and lobsters to our native delicacies.

In reading Tizon's article, one would surmise the Philippines to be so underdeveloped that the people only lived in huts and slum areas. We beg to disagree. There are houses in the Philippines that can compare to those in Beverly Hills, Calif.

We have shopping malls, supermarkets, movie theaters, and yes, even a cultural center where celebrities, like Van Cliburn, have graced us with their talents. Most people immigrating to the U.S. from the Philippines do not suffer culture shock as Tizon would imply.

We had all been blessed with ``domestic help'' in the Philippines, only we treated them with dignity. At no time did we ask them to fan us to be cooled off. We had electric fans and air-conditioners for that purpose. Even the smallest house would have at least one electric fan.

Perhaps Tizon should take time off from his ``nose-pinching'' and go back to the Philippines without his umbrella. Obviously, his bumbershoot shaded his article. He had a preconceived idea of the Philippines, and his tunnel vision prevailed.

- Filipino-American Community

of St. Anthony, Renton