Going yellow green.

It's funny, today, yellow is the "it" color. Ever since Cory died the Philippines has been struck with Cory fever or Edsa fever or whatchamacallit. Everyone is saying that yellow is the new color for courage, change, hope, even activism. [insert rolling eyes here]

It's funny because when it comes to left-leaning groups or left-leaning individuals, yellow has always been a "bad" color. Yes, I think bad is the most apt term that I can use, even though I sound like a first grader. For example, yellow journalism or yellow NGOs. Again yes, I only know two examples. If you've got suggestions, feel free to drop them in my comment box. :)

Everybody knows what those two mean but in case you don't, here's a brief but very accurate explanation:

Yellow journalism- It's like journalism only it's not. It's fake journalism.

Yellow NGOs- They're like NGOs only they're not. They're fake NGOs.

- I couldn't find a link so here's another one: organizations that uses funds for their projects in an unprofessional and unethical manner or organizations that uses projects as a front to earn more money.

Anyway, we are not going to talk about journalism or organizations. Hell no! We are going to talk about- yes, celebrities. :))

Remember Earth Hour? I was a fan of that activity, me and my whole family turned everything off in the house for the whole hour. There was such a big fuss over it, streamers were everywhere, advertisements in radios, televisions, the internet. As I've said being an activist is in, that time it was cool to be an environmental activist. Suddenly, everybody cared and everybody wanted to make a change, to pitch in and save mother earth. Everybody - especially the celebrities. Oh yeah, they held a concert/program/vigil or whatever you want to call it.

I like the fact that people are more involved in issues concerning the society and the environment. I'm happy that bit by bit people are starting to care more about recycling than the latest fashion, that they care more about renewable energy than Justin Beiber (no offense), but who are we kidding?

Celebrities have big houses with several air-conditioners, they own several cars, they use major amounts of hair spray, colognes and other chemical products for their beauty regimen and they travel a lot. In short, their carbon footprint is huuuuuuuuuuge! Singing in a concert during Earth Hour is not going to change that.

Even Meralco has the nerve to say that they're pro-mother nature. Hey Meralco douchebags! You really want to help and save Mother Earth? Then go renewable! Postpone your all-around-Europe trip and use the money for research. Say no to your daughter when she says she wants to buy a new Hummer (which by the way is a guzzler) and fund organizations or individuals so that they can launch projects that will make our community cleaner.

As for the government, don't go all yellow with us. DO SOMETHING! Like closing down factories that are killing our streams and rivers. Build a proper dump site. Protect our forests, our mangroves, our seas! Should we make a step by step list?

So yes Kim Chiu, you really want to help mother nature? Then stop being a celebrity otherwise, you're not really going green, you're just going YELLOW green.

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It's all Mao's fault. He started a band.

Do you watch late night shows from the local network, specifically ABS-CBN? Well, I do. Ever heard of Urban Zone? I'm an avid fan, it airs late at night on Sundays. :)

Now if you do watch late night shows on the local network, you probably know what happens before they sign off. Yep, you got it. They air music videos, the last of which is our National Anthem.

So one night, after watching Urban Zone I decided to watch more TV since I still don't feel sleepy and since we don't have cable (gasp!) I have to make do with ABS-CBN. I was having a perfectly nice night mocking the host of a late night show when suddenly it happened. What I saw made me barf!

Celebrities like Shaina Magdayao and Kim Chiu marching the streets waving red flags as if in a protest rally. What are they doing? Are they mocking us? What did we do to them? Huh? Huh? Huh?

For some reason activism is in again! Yay us! Tear up your jeans, ditch your uber expensive havs, slip on your org shirt and wear a tubao on your head- LETS DO THIS THING! Nowadays, being patriotic is the fashionable thing to do. You wouldn't want your friends to know you don't care about social equality don't you? It's sooooooo uncool.

I personally think this is due to the fact that Mao Tse Tsung started a band (or Che Guevara, take your pick). Remember the days when Che and Mao shirts were the coolest thing on earth? Everybody had one, even me. Hehehe.. :) Well, a student from UP was asked why he has Mao's face on his shirt. He said because System of a Down is a great band and Mao is a fantastic vocalist. There you have it folks, Mao's fault.

Being an activist is more than just a fashion statement. It's more than just wearing yellow. Being an activist meant standing by your principles even though it soooo 70's, being firm even though you're discriminated by your entire school and living a life serving the people.

Fashionable or not real activists fight against social injustice, wherever, whenever, whether in heels or in dragon slippers. Like the LFS! :) Do give their site a visit.

"To the left, to the left..." - Beyonce

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