~wearing a mask

A mask is used to conceal what’s behind it. Masks come in different shapes, colors and sizes so as the ones who use it. People cover their faces with masks to hide their secrets only them know. But no secrets are left undiscovered. Sooner or later they will reveal themselves in their own ways and at their own times.

People wear masks because they are too scared to show the real them. to show who they really are. Let’s face it, everyone wears one. I strongly feel that no one has ever been true to themselves. What I mean, totally true. All of us have dirty little secrets. But why hide them. Its not about being scared, it’s about being embarrassed. we hide these secrets and wish that no one would ever find them. We’re embarrassed not of the secret but about what other people will think.

Every person is a critique and you can’t do anything about it. These people will look at you from head to toe and then there goes criticism. Yes even I. I am a very opinionated critique and I’ll say whatever I see. Its ok to be one the problem is, sometimes people exaggerate too much and the story becomes different from what it should really be. These critiques force people to hide their secrets and wear their masks.

But why do some value what other people should say? I mean, why do they let other people stop them from what they want or who they really are. Its because this is a dog eat dog world. You have to be strong. Any signs of weakness will allow these predators to eat you whole. Thus, you can’t show them who you really are. But this isn’t always the reason, this is just how I see it. also, people wear masks to blend in, a good way to hide their secrets. in our community, especially the conservative Filipinos, signs of being different send different sorts of messages. When the receiver interprets this the results show negativity. Especially the old ones, lets say 40 and above, everything that don’t follow traditions or norms are wrong, better yet… sinful. They have narrow minds and is hard for them the open them up and to accept changes in our society. As they always say, nothing is permanent in this world but change. And these changes happen so quickly that you should be the one to catch on.

Anyway, going back to what I was saying awhile ago. Masks. I was watching tv a couple of nights ago and there’s this person who finally revealed who he really is. Rustum Padilla. He’s been the talk of the town for some time now. He showed greater courage not by just telling it to the whole world but in accepting what he really is. He received so many praises from people from the industry. Rustum, who usually portray macho roles in films he did, finally admitted that he is gay. Well, even without admitting it, it is really obvious. Anyway, while he was admitting to the world he said that, here in the Philippines, if one is gay then, he should talk, walk, dress and act like a girl. Come to think of it. yeah! Only here. I watch will and grace and will being a gay guy doesn’t seem to be one. without know he is gay, I won’t suspect he is (just for the show I mean). Anyway, fab 5 from the queer eye, their gay but they are good dressers. Going back to rustum, he said that, “hindi ako masamng tao” this I don’t get! Maybe again for the traditional Filipino mind, being gay is bad. Well I guess we can’t do anything about that. You can’t be bad as long as you are being true to yourself and you are not on the way or stepping on others.

Well, I highly respect rustum for removing his mask. No one yet has ever “come out” on TV before rustum. He showed courage in doing it. well, at least that’s one done from people who wears masks. Before I finish this, I want to clear that by wearing a mask doesn’t mean you are gay or a lesbo. You can use that mask for different reasons like, your cheating on your girl, you are lying about yourself (background, personality etc), maybe a masks to keep your secret as being an extraterrestrial. Anyway, rustum is just an example I used for people who are wearing masks. Look around you, are you really sure that your friend, your seatmate in your algebra class, your girlfriend, your best friend, your sibling or your parents are being true to you. You’re not, right? Because its been like this for the longest time. Its human nature and it will take forever for everyone to completely remove theirs. And if ever that these masks are removed, lets just accept the person on who she or he really is. Let’s open our minds and accept changes. To end, I wanna leave the million dollar question… are you being true?