Marian Rivera (MNS photo)
Marian Rivera lamented the apparent mindset among Filipinos that those who speak English fluently are more intelligent, saying she is not one to claim proficiency in the language.
“Hindi ko alam kung paano ko bubuksan ‘yung mga pag-iisip ng ibang tao,” the 30-year-old actress said. “Kapag hindi ka magaling mag-English, kahit nakatapos ka ng college mo, kahit mabait kang tao, kahit mapagmahal ka sa pamilya mo, kahit matulungin ka sa kapwa mo, feeling nila bobo ka.”
“Pero ‘pag matalino ka, kahit ipokrita ka, kahit sinungaling ka o ano mang definition nila, bakit ang tingin ng tao, maayos pa rin, basta nakakapag-Ingles ang isang tao?”
She added: “Hindi ko makuha ‘yung analyzation na gano’n. Iyon ba ang basehan ng mga tao sa pagiging isang matalino? Kapag hindi ka magaling mag-Ingles, pero maprinsipyo ka sa buhay, mapagmahal kang anak, mabait kang kaibigan, ibig sabihin ba noon, bobo ka?”
Rivera talked about the topic during a visit to her alma mater, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, where she finished B.S. Pyschology, leading up to her December 30 wedding to actor Dingdong Dantes.
During the presidential campaign in 2010, Rivera and Dantes were among the celebrity supporters of President Benigno Aquino III. The actress became the target of criticism and ridicule at the time when, in a televised interview, she defended the then-senator over allegations about his mental health.
Referring to her degree, Rivera said, “Isa po akong psychology at nakikita ko na wala naman siyang (Aquino) diperensya.”
The grammatically incorrect reply drew different reactions online. Some made fun of the actress, but others were quick to come to her defense.
“Ang sakit lang isipin na… At sana maging malawak ang pag-iisip ng mga tao tungkol sa definition ng pagiging isang matalinong tao,” Rivera said. “Kasi para sa sa akin, ang matalinong tao, marunong dumiskarte sa buhay.”
Rivera stressed the importance of good values over the ability to speak English fluently, adding that mastery of the language, after all, is not the only indicator of intelligence.
“Aanhin ko ang kagalingan sa pag-i-Ingles kung hindi naman ako marunong dumiskarte at hindi ako mapagmahal sa mga magulang ko, o nakakalimutan ko ang mga kaibigan ko? Kung ang definition ng matalino ay pag-i-Ingles lang, huwag nalang ako maging matalino.”
While admitting she is not proficient in English, Rivera said finishing a college degree is testament enough to one’s skills and intelligence.
“Alam kong mahirap dahil na mimis-interpret, dahil ako, aaminin ko, hindi ako kagalingan mag-English. At hindi iyon naging basehan ko para sabihin na hindi ako matalinong tao,” she said. “Kasi maka-graduate ka ng [psychology] sa isang magandang eskuwelahan, sa isang La Salle, dugo’t pawis… Walang bobong taong nakaka-graduate ng [psychology]! Promise!” (MNS)