The history of Kabobohan 2.0, Part 3

IN PARTS 1 and 2 of this essay, I defined the new Kabobohan of Filipinos online as occasioned by the free-for-all Internet.

I also detailed how the dummy and troll accounts are driving the narrative online.

And why I felt the need to reach out, and even put my reputation at stake.

Whether you like it or not, I have a Jesus-streak in me.

As I said previously, I want to be the arms of Jesus to embrace the Filipino youth. 

***

Sadly, these youth have a wrong idea of what Jesus would look like in the 21st century.

Hindi nila ma-imagine that Jesus would be wearing rip jeans, white T-shirt, and posting fun shit on Facebook like the way I do.

Or caring for the youth like the way I do.

Loving nature and traveling like the way I do.

Speaking out for others (who do not have a voice) like the way I do.

Or speaking out with the authority of the righteous like the way I do!

***

So anyway, basta para sa akin, gago ang gago, tanga ang tanga, bobo ang bobo. 

I won’t compromise!

Jesus can do his perfect way.

I will do my 21st century effective way.

***

In the past century, hindi ako lumaking gumagamit ng mga salitang “gago”, “bobo”, “tanga”. 

Until I was 50 years old, mabibilang sa mga daliri ang paggamit ko ng mga salitang ito. 

Until last year, sa simula ng pandemic. 

Medyo matagal na rin ako sa Facebook, mahigit isang dekada na. 

Did I use these words before 2020? 

Malamang, hindi. (Maybe “gago” for the lover in my poems, but definitely not gago for a netizen.)

***

Pero napansin ko lang kasi, maraming gumagamit ng “gege”, “tengeena”, “paksheet”, na of course means “gago”, “putang-ina” at ‘f*ck shit.’ 

So, I started this social experiment. 

Matalino ako that way. 

Always doing anthropological and social research to back up my statements and opinions.

***

I found out, mas popular ang posts ko kung gamit ko ang mga salitang ito. 

Madaling isini-share. Marami ang nati-trigger. 

Marami ang nagri-react. Marami ang butt-hurt. 

And I want to reach the widest audience possible!

***

Kasi, kung importante ang sasabihin ko for these people’s salvation, I want more people to hear/see/read it.

Kung tungkol naman kasi sa Dios ang pino-post ko, or sa goodness ng tao, wala namang shares, wala namang reacts. 

(Actually, meron, like mga 18 out of my 5,000 friends and 7,000+ followers. Do the math.)

***

Again, wala akong selfish motives. 

Hindi ako kumikita rito. 

Ayoko ng fans. 

Gusto ko lang mag-reach out sa nawawalang mga tupa.

***

Siempre pa, nabago ang landscape ng Facebook ko.

May mga real name, real account friends pa rin ako, pero mas marami na ang dummy account and fake friends.

And my research shows na itong mga dummy at fake accounts are the young people I want to reach.

***

My real life friends don’t need me to save them. 

They are stable, smart, and in a good place. 

They know the real world, and how it works. 

They don’t need my posts for guidance, and they don’t need to react to my posts.

Kaya I focused my posts (starting 2020) sa mga kabataang Filipino. 

Lalo sa mga bulag na Wattpaders, delusional na RP writers, mga pervert na smut writers, and lately sa mga tanga, bobo, at gago na mahilig makipagtalo sa akin online. 

As if my chance silang manalo. Haha!

***

Here’s the thing: Pinag-iisipan ko ang posts ko. 

They are at least eight  hours old before they are posted. 

I have already debated them in my mind, and have anticipated reactions and comments. 

Alam ko na ang isasagot ko kung may magtatanong.

***

Mabilis akong mag-reply sa comments. 

As soon as I read them, I reply. 

Kasi, alam na alam ko ang position ko at kung saan pupunta ang usapan. 

I look really smart kasi hindi ako padalos-dalos katulad ng mga kabataang hindi nag-iisip. 

That’s why they don’t ever win against me. 

So far, no one has. Kaya #PSNLangMalakas. 

***

ThePSN versus Wattpaders? I won that one! 

ThePSN versus Role Players? I won that one, too!

ThePSN versus Smut writers? I very clearly won that one, too!

ThePSN versus nobodies na nagpapansin? I obviously won those, too! 

So yeah, I have that legacy. Record ‘yan.

I am becoming a legend against these keyboard warriors. 

That’s why I am #ThePSN of Philippine literature. (To be continued)/PN