'Toy napigket nga daga
Pitpitenmi nga umuna
Danggayanmi't kankanta
Takkiagmi a napigsa
Kettang ken bannogmi
dikam igingina 

     Mannamili
     Ilokano Folk Song

ABSTRACT

The unique Filipino identity arises from a conflation of historical, economic, political and psychological factors. At the same time, it has taken on a new dimension as “Global Pinoy” due to globalization process, which is further shaped by internal conditions of a weak or decadent nation-state. This paper argues that “Global Pinoy” identity is like Janus, the Greek God with two faces who guards the portals of beginnings and endings. One face is featured by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who are valorized in the Philippines as “modern heroes,” and by other Filipino achievers abroad (notably boxing champions, beauty queens, Mt. Everest climbers, etc.). The other face of this identity is basically a national marker created by policies and actions of the Philippine government and its political institutions, as well as by conscious attempt of Philippine leaders to mold that identity from selective images and values.  This paper will analyze identity construction and representation of the Global Pinoy as a complex, dynamic process of becoming.  On the one hand, it projects a Janus-faced identity that denotes the pretty and beautiful, animated by success stories, heroism and other exemplary acts of achievements. On the other hand, it depicts “ugliness” - marred by evil and bad images of Filipinos back home. It is tainted by Machiavellian politics, corruption, nepotism, election anomaly and other venalities that consume the nation’s ideals.  This ugliness, however, is covered by hideous attempts to deodorize, cosmeticize, and sweeten it with all the trappings of beauty.  Global Pinoy identity is constantly represented as beautiful in the media and government propaganda, usually magnified out of proportion to the lived experiences of heroism, success and achievements of Filipinos abroad, but oblivious to their sufferings and miseries. This lopsided representation is a stark contrast to the negative image of the Philippines, described as a nation of “cheats, liars and hypocrites” due to recent scandals there.  Philippine leaders prop up the Global Pinoy identity as though it enhances their own image and that of the nation, masquerading behind it to hide a wicked Freudian self.  They formulate policies along the contours of globalization - calculated to enhance overseas migration, as if it bails out the country from chronic unemployment and lack of opportunities. Tragically, the better part of Global Pinoy identity is washed up by realities on the ground.  Philippine politics brazenly descends to partisanship and oligarchic rule that serve the vested interest of the elite rather than the public, while the country continues to wallow in poverty and eagerly sends out millions abroad as global servants and laborers. 

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