"Kahit mahirap kang ipaglaban, pinipili pa rin kita, Pilipinas."
This is the last phrase of Comedienne Vice Ganda in her viral social media video "Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas" challenge.
This trend on social media is making a buzz after Filipino influencers did this challenge, showcasing their creativity in the presentation of Philippine culture, history, and creative artistry.
Originally, this song was sung by Angeline Quinto featuring Vince Bueno and was an official song of the Department of Tourism "Choose Philippines" Campaign in 2011.
This promoted and encouraged locals and foreigners to explore the beauty and uniqueness of the Philippines, creating pride for the country.
The ups and downs of being Pinoy
With her remarkably comedic style, Vice Ganda accented the Filipino struggle and strength as she joins the challenge.
Aside from the vibrant makeup transformation and foreign fashion influences, Vice also showcased the true modern Filipina beauty with her intricately embellished modern white Filipiniana.
In a two-minute video, Vice conveyed the undying issue of Manila traffic congestion, air pollution, and sound pollution with which normal Filipino commuters are struggling every day.
It is still a striking issue, up until today, the threat of jeepney phaseout nationwide to be replaced by the modern jeepney. In this government project, the jeepney operators will create a cooperative. This enables the jeepney drivers, conductors, and other cooperative personnel to have mandated government benefits, a regular salary, and other benefits.
However, there are some issues arising from this. Despite the good intentions, it is evident that there is a transportation crisis in Metro Manila, and these cooperatives are struggling to pay off their financial obligations, especially since the modern jeepney units were lent out by the bank.
Shifting from transportation to tourism issues, the video also shows the then controversial Torre de Manila, which was once tagged as "Photobomber,” behind the historical site of the Rizal Monument in Luneta.
Transitioning from the towering residential condominium building behind the Rizal Monument to the surprising establishment of a private resort within the famous chocolate hills in Bohol. The resort was temporarily shut down following the absence of an Environmental Compliance Certificate, or ECC.
The famous chocolate hills in Bohol, according to UNESCO, were declared a 3rd National Geological Monument on June 18, 1988.
Lastly, there was the ownership conflict in the West Philippine Seas, in which China claimed the territories under the Philippines jurisdiction. There are incidents of harassment from Chinese vessels toward the Filipino Fisher Folks, and they tend to block and repel them in the waters within the Philippine Territory. The Philippines ownership of the West Philippine Sea was equalized following the country’s petition to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 and the historic victory.
Indeed, this so-called social media challenge was more than a measurement of algorithms for social media content creators but a good platform for how we can creatively present relevant issues that need to be addressed.
This sets an example for Filipinos to speak, intervene, and take a stand on the pressing social issues in the country.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #PiliinMoAngPilipinasChallenge #ViceGanda