Technology and a Moral Standard: A Mutually Exclusive Philippine Experience

Early this week, a popular Hong Kong actor exhibited considerable moral fiber by admitting the authenticity of sexually explicit photographs circulating the Internet. Edison Chen not only publicly apologized to the different female celebrities featured in the pictures, but asked forgiveness from the Asian public in general for failing to live up to his moral responsibilities as a role model for the youth. In an attempt, it seems, to forestall any speculations as to the sincerity of his contrition, Chen also announced his intention to retire from Hong Kong show business--if only to have "time to heal himself." Whether he lives up to his promise or not, technology became the catalyst to his moral dilemma by exposing the excesses of his private life.

Chen's attitude is as far removed from the prevailing culture in the Philippines as it is possible to get--even with explicit proof of wrongdoing. Indeed, Chen's forthrightness and immediate attempt to minimize the negative publicity leave me feeling ashamed of how Filipinos typically treat similar scandals. Juxtaposed with a repentant actor, local politicians glimmer all the more feebly--one of whom is a sitting President who has admitted her involvement in the Hello Garci scandal on national TV, and continues to live to tell the shameful tale. Recently, we have government officials readily shelling out half a million pesos "as a loan"--hoping, no doubt, that having a heart of gold is a plausible defense against any conceivable liability. We have a public officer whose moral fears are assuaged by the standard of a "moderated greed," and a livid spouse of a former Speaker delivering a furious diatribe on the "evil" President. In every case, fingers are pointed and blame laid at someone else's door; everyone intent on proving that someone else, after all, has committed a greater crime than he has. Chen, on the other hand, refused to absolve himself, even as he actively assists local police in apprehending the culprit behind the Internet photos.

Edison Chen at least saw the folly of playing the fool, and gave the public its dignity by refusing to insult its intelligence. He would have no doubt behaved differently if the bulk of his fan base were Filipinos and--thanks to our culture of personality-based politics--willing to be robbed blind in exchange for a photo opportunity. After all, politicians are only as evil as the media paints them out to be. Ultimately however, revelations through technology are only scandalous vis-a-vis an existing moral standard. Where one is lacking, or all but forgotten, even the most immoral allegations will fail to rile. Call it what you will, but it seems that in this country at least, any publicity is good publicity.

Please see:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080221/en_afp/entertainmenthongkongcanadacelebrityscandal;_ylt=Aq3Z_WKqTg629xbV5sgQyDr6VbIF