User talk:Nino Gonzales/jologs

Actually the first time i heard the term jologs is in Francis Magalona's song with the same title. The way a jolog person is portrayed in the song, it appears that the person's characteristics is the same as that of a "cowboy". An "anything-goes" person. The same portrayal is akin to the characters of the movie also entitled "jologs". They do not necessarily have to refer to urban poor.

More likely, it has almost the same meaning as the phrase "walang keme". Or "walang arte". Also somehow related to "street smart". But mostly, the term "jologs" seem to have been invented during circa early-mid 90s. When the Filipino alternative music scene was in a boom. And the term was used to describe usually college students who are more focused in the music scene rather than in their studies. The type who never misses gigs/concerts. Only goes home to catch some sleep, take a bath (if they remember to do so), and eat. After waking up, they would immediately set themselves to getting out of the house again, usually to hang out with friends and trying to come up with a new "gimik".

If you happen to know the meaning of the term "coño" in local slang, then "jologs" would be the exact opposite of it. "Coño" people does not neccessarily have to be filthy rich, it is with the way they behave. The way they move. The way they talk. Same goes with jologs.

With all said and done, since it appears that a lot of research has been done regarding the article, I would advise that for the exact/true meaning of the word, do not consult the language authorities/experts/intellectuals (since they would usually be just interacting with persons who do not have first-hand experience in the scene but just heard the word from a friend who heard the word from a friend) but rather consult the people who have been in the Filipino alternative scene during the era, perhaps Romeo Lee would be a good source. Or some of the bands like Francis Magalona and the original band members of The Hardware Syndrome. A good source would also be perhaps Dong Abay of Yano. Or the members of the band "The Youth", or "Datus's Tribe" perhaps to name a few.

I hope I have somehow helped with giving the word its true meaning.


 * Thanks for you inputs!


 * Yes, I believe I also heard that rap song that you mentioned. However, I think it wasn’t sung by Francis M. but by a lesser know rapper called Gloc-9. (Unless we’re talking of two different songs. In which case, may I ask for the lyrics of the Francis M. song? It would be a welcome addition to this paper.) The Jologs song I know is from the OST of movie of the same title, and repeats the line “Sila ang Jologs” many times. Is this the song you are referring to?


 * I actually tried to use primary sources as much as possible for the definition of Jologs: blogs, forums, slang dictionaries. I only used scholarly research for things like the sociological history of Manila, explanation of related phenomena like the “outgroup homogeneity effect,” and demographic data. I admit that I relied heavily on Paolo Manalo’s theories regarding the etymology of the term to define it. Although Mr. Manalo is a teacher in UP, I don’t think we could consider him to be trapped in the otherworld of the Academe. He is a poet, and he is THE expert on the Sex Bomb Girls. The latter is enough to show his connectedness to pop culture.


 * My assertion in the paper regarding the “walang keme” definition of Jologs is that it is a later revisionism which only appeared early years of the first decade of 2000. I could not find usage of the term earlier than that time with this meaning. What I did find was mostly usage with the derogatory meaning of the term which, as you correctly pointed out, is not related to the subject’s poverty, but on his appearance. My thesis is that this “appearance” is both a real subculture created by the socio-economic history and structure of Manila, and the imposition of a social value—both the negative and the later sympathetic—by the middle-class of Manila, who seems to be the most influential in setting the direction of Manilenyo popular culture.


 * Thanks for you inputs again! Although there is some interest in Jologs in showbusiness, there seems to be very little serious discussion in its being a channel to understand the whole of Manilenyo society. It has been difficult looking for people to do a peer review of the paper. I really appreciate you sharing your point of view. Although I really worked hard to make this study, it’s merely a sum of my conclusions based on available data I got connected to the subject. I think original researches, just like Wikipedia articles, need to undergo merciless review to be really objective.--Nino Gonzales 04:49, 18 April 2006 (UTC)