LIKE a compass through the storms of art and other noteworthy human endeavors, the awards culture, that human obsession for recognition and accolade; is here to stay — at its own price.
It is not just the celebrity allure. It’s the cut above all. It is the public acclaim, the attention, the limelight.
Every time you turn around, someone’s winning an award for something. There are many reasons why the nation seems caught in an obsessive pursuit of recognition. There seems to be no field of human endeavor without them, and no shortage of groups eager to give their version of a statuette with a funny name, or trophies to knock you out. Every year, these inanimate objects of recognition command audience and speak incalculable joy, jealousy and gaiety.
They pass awards essentially over the same things — the movie business, arts and entertainment, civic or professional excellence, or journalism. It could even be worse, because in addition to the Pulitzer Prize, there are scores of national awards meant to praise outstanding media coverage — from the presidency, to a plane crash, even coup de etatand bone surgery. It was always the more the merrier. Considered the grandest of awards is the National Artist Awards, proclaimed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. Here in California, the Philippine Heritage International is now on its 29th year.
Awards can be quite unusual and inventive, but tokens of recognition could be double-edged swords. It can swathe through, and there are real risks of resentment and jealousy. If it is viewed as just the latest gimmick in a process dominated by the politics of a specific field, people can be cynical. But the untold amount of good buzz that it produces outweighs the sentiments of those who are supposed to mock the pretensions and importance of awards. When they have been seduced by the siren call of acclaim, no mantle piece should be bare.
In the Fil-Am community, the most popular, renowned and the biggest following in the Southland; derive part of their appeal from the format that closely resembles the classic variety shows, serving up music, dance, a prestigious beauty pageant in the same program. As the night rolled, there will be a few pleasant surprises that continue to draw a widely diverse audience.
The show, far beyond their astute awardees and all its glitter and ferocious supporters, only needs a host and awardees themselves. The best part is that some producers can draw and charm celebrities usually without pay. As productions become big self promotions among the awardees, the crème de la crème of the community. This is in spite of who regards peer acknowledgement as the basic full force of fulfillment of the deepest human desire, that yearning for acceptance and recognition and that indescribable addiction for affirmation.
And if the audience is lucky, there were no feigned humility, mammoth egos or blinding jewelries that can feed a small nation. The real gems of the show might be but just a supply of rare glimpses into the very human and unscripted side of the awardees, as their family and friends scream their greetings.
But we will still worship the fantasy that its great panacea, when doors open and new friends ooze out of the woodwork, when it becomes the stepping stone, that one may collect its rose.
***
E-mail Mylah at [email protected].
