Sense of Humor

Filipinos are world famous for the longest celebration of the Christmas season. We usher in the holidays beginning with the so-called “Ber” months. And so on Sept. 1 when the clock strikes 12:01, Filipinos, who are also world famous for their fun-loving character as well as their presence on social media begin creating and sharing what has become the symbol of the start of the season: Jose Mari Chan.

I am not exactly sure when this tradition started but it was most probably because of the fact that Jose Mari Chan, an accomplished businessman and singer, has been known for his Christmas songs. In particular, his song “Christmas in our hearts” has become a staple as far as Christmas carols are concerned that people have referred to him as “King of Philippine Christmas Carols.”

I really enjoy this yearly ritual among Filipinos. For one, some of the memes are downright hilarious and really showcase the creative minds of Filipinos. It also shows that unmistakable character of Filipinos of not taking everything too seriously. This is something I have noticed over decades of interaction with people when I was in politics and even now in business as I go around visiting most parts of the country: Filipinos will find humor in everything. 

Filipinos are known for cracking jokes at every occasion. Filipinos love to laugh. Whenever I went on a palengke tour during my electoral campaigns, people were so welcoming, shaking my hands, talking to me, and, perhaps more importantly, as a marker of intimacy, joking with me. 

I am sure we all know this as Filipinos. There are certain indicators that show the level of intimacy among people. When people feel comfortable enough to go near you, touch you (shake your hands, kiss you on the cheeks, give you a hug), that means the awkward barrier has been pierced. More importantly, when people begin telling you jokes, or when Filipinos start making jokes about you, then that is a clear sign that they are very, very comfortable around you.

Sometimes, we do take it too far. Filipinos have been known to come up with insensitive jokes or have humor that offend other people. There have been too many brawls on the street or in restaurants started by offensive jokes. And in a world that insists on political correctness, sometimes this propensity for humor is taken the wrong way.

But Filipinos, in general, are very respectful. Those who have studied the Filipino psyche point to the Filipino sense of humor as a coping mechanism. This theory states that humor serves as our coping mechanism that we have developed over centuries of challenges and hardships. Some might find it perverse but this is how we deal with disasters, hardships and obstacles that come our way — humor.

I can certainly understand the logic in this theory. I think most people use humor as a release. When you are in the middle of a crisis and people around you are very serious and tense, there will always be someone who will find a way to crack a joke not for the purpose of trivializing the moment but to give everyone an opportunity to release the tension, to step back and then go back to dealing with the crisis with a fresh perspective.

There are some who criticize the Filipinos’ propensity for “toilet humor” or “slapstick comedy” but I think it is important to understand the important role of humor in the way we deal with one another and with what is going on around us. For instance, the Covid-19 pandemic did not deter Filipinos from showing their sense of humor — some of them offensive but some were so funny they gave people the perfect reprieve from being locked inside their own homes for weeks and months.

Our sense of humor is one of the things that I love about our people. In a country where millions of people are still mired in poverty, where people go on about their daily struggles, it is a joy to see them bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Is it escapism? Perhaps, for that moment. It does not mean we are ignoring the problem. That is, in fact, one of the many ways we deal with the problem. Besides, what is wrong with escapism? When you have all this political noise surrounding you, it is probably a good thing.

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