MovieChat Forums > The Debut (2003) Discussion > Shameful remarks made by Filipinos about...

Shameful remarks made by Filipinos about the film 'Quinceanera'.

posted 18 years ago by onexdopexpinoy
9 replies | jump to latest

I have to admit that I was about to come on here and write a negative message or something along the lines of how the Filipino culture should probably do a better job of educating their young about hatred and bigotry so that they don't have to go and berate and accuse other cultures on how similar tradtions and ideas in Filipino culture were stolen and how it's hypocritical for Filipinos to do and say such things considering that are also a minority with a history of opression here in America.

I was going to write this because I was angry. But that would make me no better of a man and I realize that I cannot blame and berate an entire culture only because someone of that culture said or did something negative.

So instead, I'm saddend to say that on another film message board here on imdb.com, belonging to a wonderful film called 'Quinceanera', a filipino man or woman who goes by Patrick2480 on imdb.com went onto the 'Quinceanera' message board and accused the creators of this film of theft. He claims the creators stole the idea from 'The Debut' and is upset because 'Quinceanera' has garnered so much success, awards and positive praise, quite possibly more than 'The Debut' received when it was released. I believe this idea to be absurd, shameful. I also have to point out that judging from the use of words in his accusation, there are possible hints of bigotry, intolerance, ignorance and hate. In other words, racist or racism. A word I'm sure many in the Filipino community in America are quite familiar with.

For the Hispanically challenged, a 'quinceanera' is a traditional ceremony and celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. this film is about Magdalena, who is raised in a Latino working-class Los Angeles neighborhood and prepares for her Quinceañera – the Mexican celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday. But just before it arrives she discovers she is pregnant. Forced out of her home by her religious father, Magdalena moves in with uncle Tomas and her estranged cousin Carlos, a tough young cholo, or street ganster, thrown out by his parents for being gay.

If you have seen 'The Debut', I strongly encourage you to also see 'Quinceanera' and understand and recognize that it is also a wonderful coming-of-age story with it's own characters, it's own setting, it's own story and it's own cultrual point-of-view and noticably different.

If you'd like to visit the thread I'm referring to and see what was written, please follow this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451176/board/thread/44855876, or simply type Quinceanera in the search box and visit the Quinceanera film page on imdb.com

Thank you for having an open mind and not being ignorant. I wish you all peace.

onexdopexpinoy

[–] aki31 18 years ago

I heard about people that were bashing this movie that were Filipino. That's pretty sad. There's also an old version of Quinceanera, made in 1987 or so; I watched it in Spanish class in 8th grade. But anyway... I truly think that the reason why "Quinceanera" got more awards and more praise because the #1 minority in the US is Hispanic. And by 2010, it's said that the Hispanic population will be up to 60%. There are SO many Hispanics out there who are EVERYWHERE, so this movie will attract A LOT of people. The Debut would have been even lucky to attract 1 Million people.

So yeah, I agree with what you said, "educating their children better". ...Like how we weren't colonized by the Spaniards or have Arabic words. We have lots of similar traditions to the Spaniards, Chinese and I don't know what. Anyone else that says that they copied off of us, are ... well.. ignorant.

The Philippines doesn't have the "you-stole-this" problem there (at least I don't think), but they're also copying after the Japanese and Koreans, thanks to Sandara who brought the Pilipinos' love for Korean dramas here.

But anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's hard to find someone or something original, and everyone's gotta get something off of someone else. If this movie IS a copy, then Fil-Ams shouldn't complain about it. They should just let the directors or whoever's in charge of the two movies handle it. If it's not, then they just don't have anything better to do.

[–] kendrachiong 18 years ago

why are you guys bringing this here? i have no interest in quinceanara or whatever. you don't need to go on saying how bad some are about bashing it. its not even on topic! seriously, that's really low. direct your anger to another mexican film and stop hating.

[–] xix_azn_luv_xix 18 years ago

Okay you're saying That Filipinos need to educate their children BETTER about culture just cuz one guy was ignorant??? Well that's a stupid thing to say.

[–] onexdopexpinoy 18 years ago

Haha, I'm sorry that you obviously didn't understand what I had said above. You know, in the jumble of letters and words called the first two paragraphs? Go back and figure it out.

[–] onexdopexpinoy 18 years ago

It's obvious that you're adamantly opposed to and quite upset that I brought a particular related topic for public discussion onto a related public forum. Hmmmmm...

And honey, you're wrong about 'it not even being a topic'. I made it a topic.

[–] UCIElitist 17 years ago

Hispanically? Is that an actual word?

[–] mercy_angel_09 17 years ago

Who cares? People invent words all of the time (I do belive that Shakespeare was quite a proficient word inventor, if not for him "assassination" wouldn't be in the dictionary, just as an example).

I think a point that isn't made is that Filipino culture has its own version of the Quincenera. In case the rest of the world forgot, the Phillipines were once a colony of Spain, which were actually taken over by the United States in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Parts of Filipino culture is taken from their conquistadors, much like must of the culture of Central and South America. Filipinos, however, appear to have changed the age of their official debut, to eighteen from the traditional 15. We Americans tend to debut at either 16 or 17, tied closely into British debutants who made their entrance into society between 16 and 17, depending on the wishes of the family. I think its sad that Mexicans and Filipinos deny their shared culture (both being conquered by Spain) when really they could learn so much from each other.

Never mock the cookie.

[–] movie_starlet1294 16 years ago

Well, I'm about half Filipino and my buddy is Mexican, and we love the similarities in our culture. Just representing the ppl who DON'T deny their shared culture.

T~O
Team Edward & Team Jacob <333

[–] 16 years ago

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