John’s entry asking, the best political insult? got me thinking.
There was Arsenio Lacson’s famous indictment of a then-young Ernesto Maceda: “so young, and so corrupt.” In his day, that is, when he was still a columnist and radio commentator and not yet Mayor of Manila, Lacson was famous for his wit.
Writing in 1948, Jose A. Quirino (yes, the Joe Quirino for my generation that only knew him for his showbiz commentaries and show) wrote,
The Star Reporter has the versatile Arsenic, I mean Arsenio Lacson. He must have been baptized “Arsenic because he spits venom against those who get his goat. “In This Corner” presented “Kid Arsenic” and “Speed Denoga” in the “slambangest” battle of the century. Denoga took up the cudgels for Ford Wilkins, editor of the Manila Bulletin. When Denoga wrote to Lacson, “As a louse will say to another louse, move over, bud,” Lacson came back telling Denoga to delouse himself with DDT. All of these things happened after Wilkins criticized action of some students who picketed the senators who went on a junket at the expense of the people. To date, Wilkins is still subjected occasionally to Arsenic’s stings. Although Lacson was silenced on the radio for his indictment of the corruptions which infested (still infest) our malodorous government, he continued his heavy barrage from a moving vehicle rigged with a microphone. “Here,” he hollered, “they cannot gag me.” Personally I admire Arsenic. He has really the guts to voice what is in his mind. Such guys die with their boots on.
There are a few insults that have stuck to mind.
One is the description of Raffy Recto, dad of Ralph Recto, when he became a rabid Marcos loyalist: people would say he was “ni claro, ni recto.” Another is Ninoy Aquino’s description of a Japanese person’s inadvertently true comment. Meaning to say how much the dictator loved the country, he pronounced it, “President Marcos robs you very much!”
But actually, each generation has its political put-downs, an amusing catalog of them titled Filipino political humor, was published in The Philippines Free Press in February, 1986, including some gems from Lacson, including that joke involving the Black Nazarene, still endlessly-recycled up to now.
And of course, there’s Miguel Zubiri bragging about getting the rights to use “Boom, Tarat Tarat” as his campaign jingle, only for the lyrics to be mangled -”Boom, korap, korap!”- making the song politically unusable after a while.
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11 Feedbacks on "Filipino political humor"
tagakotta
Faster than you could say”CHIZ”, three opposition senators (Escudero/ Villar/ Cayetano) went from GO to STOP( Siyap,Tiyaga ,Opportunities,Personal interests).NaGOyo na naman and Pinoy!
diego
Theme song of former GOs… Escudero, Villar, Cayetano and adapted from and sang to the tune of a nationally famous TV soup commercial)
” Makulay ( makulay) ang buhay ( ang buhay)”
” Makulay ang buhay…sa kabilang buhay ( in reference to the administration block)..hehehe…
INQUIRER.net Blogs » The China bubble, Filipino political humor, Level Up! and Bikini News
[…] L. Quezon III discusses Filipino political humor in […]
Mario Ramos
These present crop of senators and congressmen with a few exceptions can be considered a lost generation. Let us concentrate on rebuilding the good traits of succeeding generations.
INQUIRER.net Blogs » Two words to positivity, cheap loans and Perfect World
[…] Current : Filipino political humor […]
romy
“Unscrupulous traders amids water and power crisis, faces probes by Congress”. He,he,he. Thats the funniest political humor I heard for a long time. Eh sila din yon ah! He,he,he,…..
razor211
Ninoy Aquino’s description of a Japanese person’s inadvertently true comment. Meaning to say how much the dictator loved the country, he pronounced it, “President Marcos robs you very much!”
——————-
actually the whole tirade goes like this: “You Firipinos are very rucky. You have a President who robs you, and a First Rady who robs you more!”
Kabayan
Pards 1 - Pare hihingi daw ng Emergency Powers si Gloria dahil drought daw at kulang ng tubig.
Pards 2 - Ha! Di ba kauulan lang ng malakas kanina?
Pards 1 - Eh di sigurado hihingi pa rin yan ng Emergency Powers.
Pards 2 - Baket?
Parts 1 - Aangal yan na sobra naman ang tubig
Randy Delacruz
I do not know where to put my comments, but I am again smiling on the news that Senator Pangilinan is worried about the 1 Billion Pesos monthly expenses for war. He said livelihood for those affected of war. Well, let him do it.. Tingnan ko kung magtagumpay ka Senador. It is obvious that you are so naive about the war and your views may be narrowly focused. Gawin mo kung kaya mo ang sinasabi wag puro salita. Magbubunyi ang mga sundalo kung aalis sila ng Basilan at Jolo.. Walang sundalong ang gusto ng gyera. And you people should know it. But i tell you this, I don’t like our President but she had a point when she said that in order to achieve peace you need to go to war.
Peter
“Concentrate on rebuilding the good traits of succeeding generations” good move and advise…but so sad that my beloved 1st District of Lanao del Norte is one of the lost generation…..until now COMELEC never proclaim the true winner Varf Belmonte….news are sealed….you can’t heard what is going on with the result of the May 14th Election….election returns were tampered by the loser to make it appeared that “she” won. News from any part of the country whose election were rigged are always broadcast but for the 1st District, Lanao del Norte nothing at all. We the constituents are in limbo….there is already a vacuum in our governance. Just wondering…….?????
Fred S.
Life without humor is boring. This has been exemplified by the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. With his humor and wit, he was able gain a large following among friends and enemies that finally led to the downfall of a strong dictator and a not so strong but very charismatic leader from power.
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