PHRASE: Persona non grata
MEANING: Persona non grata" is a Latin term meaning "unwelcome person." In diplomacy, it refers to a foreign diplomat who is no longer welcome in a host country, often leading to their expulsion. In a broader context, it can signify that a person is unwelcome in a particular place, city, or community due to their actions or behavior.
Yes, a Filipino citizen can be declared persona non grata in a specific locality or even across the Philippines. While the term is often associated with diplomats, it can also be used in non-diplomatic contexts to express disapproval of someone's actions or behavior, even if they are a Filipino citizen.
EXAMPLE: The people of Davao were not happy when Vice Ganda, in his recent concert with Regine Velasquez in Araneta, made a Jet-ski holiday skit- a satire of the FPRRD campaign promise where he boasted he is going to the Spratly Islands in a jet ski and plant the Filipino flag there.
In his skit ... Vice Ganda said this: “Nothing beats a jet ski holiday, right now from Manila to the West Philippine Sea via jet ski. Get unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels and a free trip to The Hague by the ICC (International Criminal Court). Promo applies to DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporters) only. Pinklawans and BBMs are prohibited. Huwag niyo akong subukan, mga pu****i** niyo (Don’t try my patience, you sons of b******),” Vice Ganda said.
The joke did not sit well with the people of Davao ... and some of them plan to slap him and declare him PERSONA NON GRATA.
MY COMMENT: I know there are a lot of people in Davao who are not used to hearing and seeing satires, parodies, irony, burlesque lampoon, and the like. People like Harry Roque will not understand what the motive is behind this ... but definitely a comedian like Vice Ganda, in fairness to him, didn't have any sinister intentions to make fun of the ex-President. He is just doing his work ... and any people who don't have a background in literary writing (that's including me) will surely feel aggravated watching the show.
I don't blame Harry Roque for asking, "What did Tatay Digong do to you to deserve this? I appreciate their frustration, but declaring VG persona non grata in Davao is too harsh.
Unknown to many, there are a lot of performing arts and literary devices, and VG is a comedian, and he was asked to perform one of the genres as mentioned above.
A Satire is strong irony or sarcasm—"in satire, irony is militant", said one literary critic. It is designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject using satirical or ironic imitation. It uses humor, exaggeration, irony, or ridicule to highlight the flaws and absurdities of people and society. It often targets politics and social issues to provoke thought.
A parody is characterized by three fundamental elements: imitation, exaggeration, and humor. These components work in tandem to create a distinct narrative style that both mimics and mocks the original subject.
Burlesque is a form of grotesque and exaggerated parody or imitation that is often seen in creative writing. It involves exaggerating a subject in a way that causes amusement or laughter. While burlesque is often seen as a bawdy form of entertainment, it is also an important tool for writers.
A lampoon, on the other hand, is a piece of writing or a speech that uses humour to harshly criticise someone or something. It's a vicious satire in prose or verse that makes a gratuitous, often unfair, and malicious assault on an individual.
Whatever technique VG used in the concert, it worked because the audience bought it. Whether he uses the concert as a vehicle to verbalize his political frustrations ... we don't know. Does he have hidden motives ... we don't know either.
But as far as we know, artists don't really appreciate it if the government also encroaches on their craft, chokes their creative juices, and throttles their artistic freedom, the way some other branch of government encroaches on the affairs of another branch.
The phrase "art imitates life" suggests that creative works, such as movies, skits, paintings, literature, or music, are inspired by or reflect real-world experiences, events, and emotions. It means that artists often draw inspiration from their own lives and the world around them to create their art.
