*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
The Village People, the iconic 1980s group known for dressing up as a police officer, soldier, fireman, and even a Native American chief, became a symbol of fun, diversity, and pop culture. Their music was loud, catchy, and unifying — but more than that, their costumes represented professions people respected. Yet, no one accused them of mocking authority or usurping power. Society understood that it was art, performance, and parody — a harmless tribute to the people who serve and protect.
Fast forward to today, it seems we have become overly sensitive to symbols while remaining blind to substance. When someone wears a sleeveless police uniform at a Halloween party, it is suddenly treated as an offense, a violation, even a legal matter. The outrage feels misplaced. How did we arrive at a point where creativity is criminalized, yet corruption is tolerated? How can a scissored sleeve be seen as more disrespectful than a hand dipping into public funds?
A few days ago, I rode a Grab car, and during the trip, I asked the driver an innocent question:
“Can a person ride a Grab car even without booking — say, he just saw you stop somewhere and wanted to ride with you?”
The driver quickly replied, “Hindi po, sir. Kailangan pong dumaan sa Grab app para matala ang pangalan at makasigurado kami sa pagkatao ng pasahero.”
Curious, I asked him again, “Paano kung ‘yung tao ay naka-barong o naka-Amerikana, mukhang kagalang-galang naman?”
His answer caught me off guard, but it was striking in its honesty.
“Sir, mas nakakatakot pa po ‘yung mga naka-barong at naka-Amerikana ngayon — kasi karamihan ng magnanakaw at tulisan, gano’n ang suot. Kaya kami sa Grab, hindi ‘yan ang basehan. Ang importante, nakarehistro ang pangalan. Hindi mahalaga kung naka-barong o naka-Amerikana — ang mahalaga, totoo siya.”
That simple conversation hit me deeply. It reminded me that trustworthiness is not worn — it is lived. Respect cannot be stitched into fabric; it must be earned through integrity. Not everyone wearing a Barong or a suit deserves our confidence. And just as importantly, not everyone who wears a costume does so out of disrespect. Sometimes, a costume is merely a form of freedom of expression — an act of admiration, humor, or cultural commentary, not an insult.
If there’s truly a case that deserves to be filed for usurpation of authority, it should not be against those who wear costumes for amusement, but against those who wear national symbols only to betray what they represent. The Barong Tagalog, the Philippines’ national attire, is not just a piece of clothing. It embodies honor, integrity, and patriotism. It symbolizes the dignity of public service and the purity of intent to serve the Filipino people. Yet many of those who proudly wear it inside the halls of Congress have turned it into a cloak of deceit — a costume far more deceptive than any Halloween outfit.
How ironic that we find offense in a playful imitation of a police uniform, but remain indifferent when legislators dressed in Barong Tagalog steal billions in taxpayers’ money. These lawmakers commit the gravest insult to our institutions, not by what they wear, but by what they do while wearing it. The Barong becomes a disguise — a garment of respectability masking the stench of corruption and greed.
True usurpation of authority is not found in costumes or playful mimicry. It is found in those who betray the public trust while pretending to uphold it. When a corrupt official wears the Barong Tagalog, he usurps the authority of every honest Filipino who truly lives by its meaning. He wears not the national attire but the nation’s shame.
It is not the sleeveless uniform that insults the police. It is the sleeveless conscience of our so-called leaders that insults the Republic. Until we learn to distinguish between parody and hypocrisy, between playfulness and plunder, we will continue to punish symbols while excusing sinners.
Perhaps the real Halloween happens not in costume parties but in the halls of power — where masks are permanent, deception is celebrated, and thieves are applauded as statesmen. In that world, the Barong Tagalog is no longer a badge of honor. It is the most dangerous costume of all.
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