If you were to go all creeper status and look up old photos of me, you definitely wouldn't find one of me posing by a rice rocket fulfilling some dude's import model fantasy (an image that "bebot" may conjure up for some). And no, despite my annoyingly squeaky voice, I prefer pitbulls and other large, huggable dogs over toy breeds. But let me stop myself before I end up writing an academic essay about femininity and masculinity, and try to instead explore an aspect of bebot-ism.
When the song "Bebot" by the Black Eyed Peas first came out, community members had mixed reactions... "Yay! We're finally getting mainstream recognition!" "Great, another orientalized portrayal of Pinays." "Woohoo! Tagalog rap!" "Woop dee doo, Filipino stereotypes wrapped into one song."
Hearings were held, letters were written, pickets were picketed(?) and the end result? Grey area. Yep, back to square one of folks disagreeing and no one answer being determined. I see it ending up that way because of the nature and definition of "bebot" itself is in the grey area. It can be both derogatory and subversive, both a source of weakness and strength. Guess which interpretation this blog is taking.
In taking on the monolithic "bebot" and all the connotations attached to it, it is my hope that in some small way, this blog can reshape the image of not only Filipinas but Filipino Americans in general. That through our musings, Fil-Ams will not be seen just as good entertainers and great cooks but also professors, writers, intellectuals and more. (Pictured here are last year's 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US.)
And perhaps even more important: that through honest and open self-examination, us not-so-typical bebots out there, get to know ourselves a little better.
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