So, after tonight’s episode of Idol, my father started talking about how he was really disappointed that Martha, a competitor with some Filipino heritage, got the boot last week. He hasn’t been this invested in a competitor, ever. And really, that’s because he works with her aunt. As well, he’s seen her perform in person. So, yeah, I can see why he wanted to support her. The thing that really bothered me though was that it descended into a matter of so-called Filipino pride. It was no longer about supporting a friend’s niece–it was all about supporting a kababayan, which to me, is not what the show is all about, you know?

My father was hypothesizing about why she got the boot, and it all seemed a bit extreme. He was seemingly quite peeved. I was just rolling my eyes as he went on. When he mentioned things like “silent-racism” I tuned him out altogether. Sure, some people will vote based on the fact that a competitor is from their home country, or own race, but that’s kind of a drop in the bucket. Really, I’d put more weight on so-called regional-voting, and even on the teen-girlies power voting the their future husbands through. However, that’s besides the point, isn’t it? Sort of.

Honestly, that competitor being out-voted is not just about there being less Filipinos out there than other nationalities or regions. It’s also about the fact that she just didn’t connect with the audience. Nationalism and regionalism can only take you so far. If you can’t cross that boundary, your chances become slim.

I wouldn’t be blogging about this, but in the midst of the craziness of Idol voting in this household, I was given a personal jab. A few weeks ago I was saying that I didn’t want to vote for someone just because that person was Filipino. My mom said: “That’s because you’re not Filipino.”

OUCH.

Well yeah, I suppose I self-identify as “Canadian” first and “Filipino” second. Still…

Actually, more than either of these labels…I am Jason. Yes. I am.