OPINION: SMART LIVING
MANILA, APRIL 16, 2008 (STAR) CTALK By Cito Beltran - Because of the never ending rise in the price of food and prime commodities, many people have started talking about “downgrading” their lifestyle. Doing with less is always the instant answer of people who never really think in terms of “doing with better”.
When the financial crisis made a serious dent on the disposable income of the jetsetters or the rich and aimless, the buzzword was it was now fashionable to travel around the Philippines. “BORA” suddenly became their playground and now BORA has become so boring and oh so expensive.
The truth of the matter is BORA, which we all use to call Boracay was the ordinary Filipino’s paradise until the “downgraded” rich discovered it. Boracay was always there but the “rich and aimless” were not hot to mix it up with the “Turistang Kanin” or backpackers. In fact, most of the “fashionista” women hated the sun and showed it by walking around in white long sleeved outfits, lathered with a pound of sunblock, wearing dragonfly shades looking like mummies with parasols.
But unable to afford their American and European playgrounds they now discovered how to live their “downgraded” state in style. They took over Boracay!
On the other hand, the “Turistang Kanin” and backpackers simply moved on. They don’t make a big deal of the economic displacement and they don’t think in terms of “downgrades”, they know what they can afford and look for the next best place or the next best deal, their lives are not dictated upon by labels, revues or trends.
Using the term “downgrade” or even “upgrade” reflects such a status conscious and financially determined position in life. It’s almost equivalent to an admission that your lifestyle is manufactured or artificial. It does not reflect the capacity for intelligence, merely the obedience of a lemming to jump off a cliff.
Unfortunately for Filipinos, we evolved or remained as a brand conscious culture that equates quality or satisfaction based on a product name or the endorsement of a trusted or idolized personality. We go with the “popular” not because they are popular but because they were popularized by media.
So when we can no longer “afford” or when we have to make a choice, we demean or punish ourselves by imposing a “downgrade” in our lifestyle, a lifestyle dictated by media and role models.
But how much effort have you made to determine or validate the lifestyle you live? Socrates is quoted as saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. Have you examined your lifestyle lately? Have you stepped back to really evaluate your standards and the products that you go after, the choices you make?
Economists and financial analysts have suggested that the government should let the Philippine Peso reach its real value against the US dollar to prevent any serious damage to the economy. Perhaps we should encourage Filipinos to return to a more real “Pinoy” lifestyle rather than be dislocated clones.
Consider this comparison:
US media always portrays “beautiful” models and beautiful celebrities especially in their advertisements. British media on the other hand consistently portray NORMAL people you would find at work, at home and certainly not some “Photoshop–edited supermodel. US media is trendy, British media is practical and real.
Somehow, Philippine media has limited the concept of lifestyle to fashion and leisure. It has been limited to what people with money can afford or be fooled into buying. Media is unable to educate or influence people about “smart living” because many of them don’t have time to learn it or don’t have a life!
A respected urban planner once bemoaned the fact that media promoted only urban living, not the suburban lifestyle. Have you ever read a well researched article on the real costs and may be savings between living in the city versus outside Metro Manila?
Do you know the long-term benefits for your children if they live in the suburbs where thy can ride bikes, go fishing or play outdoors?
People keep talking about how expensive it is to entertain or celebrate in a restaurant or hotel because of the value added tax, but very few people promote potluck parties, exchanging magazines to cut on subscription, or computers and Internet for the elderly?
In a time of serious concerns over food security, how come no one has done more features on rooftop gardening, container gardening or plain and simple raise-your-own-food projects?
With gasoline almost equivalent to the price of gold, what would you choose to drive – a Ford Expe(nsive) dition, a Chevy Sub(su)van, a Land(nakawin) Cruiser or a Toyota Revo. I went through them all. I’m happy my wife kept the Revo.
All my watches were given to me. The one I use the most is the one on my cell phone. Crocs will get more attention than a pair of $300 shoes. I have discovered that many of my friends who send drivers and secretaries to buy or fix stuff learn that people don’t try to get the best bargain because their staff always assumes the Boss can afford it.
Looks do matter but no one has ever been tacky or suicidal enough to ask me what brand or signature are on my clothes. More often than not people hate themselves for spending thousands of pesos on clothes or shoes no one notices while your wife gets all the compliments for looking so fresh or happy!
The unexpected gets attention more than the expensive. An unusually painted room is just as interesting as a room full of expensive paintings. Ice-cold buko juice will have more takers on a hot summer day than crates of soft drinks or sports drinks.
If you read the book “The Millionaire next door” you will learn that many of the world’s richest people are not exactly fashion conscious, technology savvy or very leisure oriented. They are hardly affected by “downgrades” or “upgrades”. They usually remain in “Economy”.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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