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Basagan ng Trip: Complaints about Filipino Culture and Politics
"Walang basagan ng trip," is one of the vilest phrases in colloquial Tagalog, reflecting a long anti-critic tradition in Philippine arts. When artists use the term, they are asking critical voices to shut up and smile: Don't criticize my work (my "trip"); we're all just trying to be happy here. Shouldn't art, after all, be fun?
Being a critic and essayist was, one could say, my only means of self-expression. Indeed, I cannot create, so I just Complain. I've made some complaints that have offended many (declaring OPM dead) and I've made some more popular ones (calling out Tito Sotto for being a sexist). And, yes I am proud to call them complaints, because complainers believe that things are wrong and can be changed.
Welcome to the world of the second-class citizen in the republic of arts and letters--the much-maligned "tagabasag ng trip."
- from the Preface
Being a critic and essayist was, one could say, my only means of self-expression. Indeed, I cannot create, so I just Complain. I've made some complaints that have offended many (declaring OPM dead) and I've made some more popular ones (calling out Tito Sotto for being a sexist). And, yes I am proud to call them complaints, because complainers believe that things are wrong and can be changed.
Welcome to the world of the second-class citizen in the republic of arts and letters--the much-maligned "tagabasag ng trip."
- from the Preface
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
162 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 9, 2016
For something that I was initially intimidated with - I read the Intro and I came across the word "Polemics" and it made my head spin a bit, it was surprisingly readable. I didn't think I'd finish it much more actually enjoy it. Found his insights on thinking the most memorable for me - like how our Alta Sociedad are not Intellectuals anymore and how it affects the progress of culture in our country. He perfectly summarized saying: "Why are our Elites not completed elite? Because their Intellectual Consumption is Pedestrian." His insights on the Filipino's Shy Tagalized English and Imagined Titles (apparently titles such as Atty. or Engr. are not really used in Formal English). I felt like my brain had a feast on this one, and it was perfectly nourished too.
May 25, 2016
Upset at my friend for recommending this author. I guess American born Filipinos have a difference of opinion in whats considered "good" writing. If the common Filipino is infatuated with big words go pick up a dictionary. I'm just baffled how something like this can get a 4 star rating.
advice to the author: Do more research! Instead of trying to come up / finding words you don't have a firm grasp of using, dig deeper on the topic you are writing about (meaning doing more than just articulating (trying to at least) things even an American is aware of).
advice to the author: Do more research! Instead of trying to come up / finding words you don't have a firm grasp of using, dig deeper on the topic you are writing about (meaning doing more than just articulating (trying to at least) things even an American is aware of).
August 28, 2016
3.5/5 stars
March 13, 2022
This book made me think. It’s a collection of essays by historian Lisandro Claudio about Philippine politics and culture. They’re short and sweet in length, but the issues presented make you think long and hard.
Claudio manages to be both insightful and approachable despite the obvious academic undercurrents of his language, especially the first section of the book. He sounds like a well-read older brother you’d want to sit down and have a drink with. He seamlessly tackles topics as personal as a liberals arts education, OPM music, or the romanticization of Quezon City, to compelling profiles of activists like Walden Bello and Maita Gomez and even the popular idol ng bayan Raffy Tulfo and Kris Aquino, to meaty introductions of the EDSA people power and its many implications.
However, come the closing portion of the book, which dealt heavily with his Leftist research and critical stance on EDSA/People Power, he lost me with repetitive arguments and heavy jargon. BUT he’s still astute af. I want to re-read these chapters one more time, esp these days when I want to personally educate myself on this now highly-contested time of our history.
Read this book. It’s educational, thought-provoking, and, most importantly, quite entertaining!
Claudio manages to be both insightful and approachable despite the obvious academic undercurrents of his language, especially the first section of the book. He sounds like a well-read older brother you’d want to sit down and have a drink with. He seamlessly tackles topics as personal as a liberals arts education, OPM music, or the romanticization of Quezon City, to compelling profiles of activists like Walden Bello and Maita Gomez and even the popular idol ng bayan Raffy Tulfo and Kris Aquino, to meaty introductions of the EDSA people power and its many implications.
However, come the closing portion of the book, which dealt heavily with his Leftist research and critical stance on EDSA/People Power, he lost me with repetitive arguments and heavy jargon. BUT he’s still astute af. I want to re-read these chapters one more time, esp these days when I want to personally educate myself on this now highly-contested time of our history.
Read this book. It’s educational, thought-provoking, and, most importantly, quite entertaining!
November 24, 2025
For the most part, Claudio isn’t wrong, even as he makes bizarre, pedantic, condescending arguments through clunky prose. But his essays use a lot of argumentative fallacies (especially straw men and non sequiturs) to bring his points across. It also seems that he thinks he is speaking truth to power when in fact he is the one imposing—how we ought to communicate, what we should care about, what we should care less about, blah, blah, blah.
In the end, Claudio’s writing comes across as arrogant and myopic, often confusing cynicism with wisdom. The limitedness of his stances—and his aircon humor—betray one of the more serious problems of many Filipino intellectuals: that is, a conviction that “I’m right, you’re wrong, and if we have any hope, you would follow me, but also I have no intention of leading so there better be someone willing to do that, who happens to also think exactly like me.”
I’ve been meaning to read this book since it was first released but I never really got around to doing it, until last week when I saw it at a bargain bin for a third of its original price. Even then, I worry that I wasted ₱100, and that I should’ve just done a quick online search to read a sampler of Claudio’s essays.
In the end, Claudio’s writing comes across as arrogant and myopic, often confusing cynicism with wisdom. The limitedness of his stances—and his aircon humor—betray one of the more serious problems of many Filipino intellectuals: that is, a conviction that “I’m right, you’re wrong, and if we have any hope, you would follow me, but also I have no intention of leading so there better be someone willing to do that, who happens to also think exactly like me.”
I’ve been meaning to read this book since it was first released but I never really got around to doing it, until last week when I saw it at a bargain bin for a third of its original price. Even then, I worry that I wasted ₱100, and that I should’ve just done a quick online search to read a sampler of Claudio’s essays.
December 11, 2022
A collection of polemical essays on Philippine culture and politics written by a left-wing feminist
🍄🍄🍄🍄
I bought this book after hearing Howie Severino's interview with historian Leloy Claudio. His intellectual prowess was palpable. I needed to hear more.
Divided into six parts, Basagan ng Trip is a collection of essays Leloy had written for newspapers and magazines over the course of his career. The book is a critique on our society's political and cultural "trip". Leloy doesn't mince words when talking about his stand on political issues. He eloquently calls out those who he thinks are wrong. He proudly calls these as his complaints, because he believes that "things are wrong and can be changed."
Quotes:
"It is, afterall, the lower class, the grassroots, that has the biggest stake in making things better for the majority of Filipinos. That has always been the case in most, if not all, struggles for liberation"
"Activism is autobiography in action We attach ourselves to causes not just because they are important, but also because they resonate with us."
"The key element of civility that governs all democratic societies: the respect for life."
🍄🍄🍄🍄
I bought this book after hearing Howie Severino's interview with historian Leloy Claudio. His intellectual prowess was palpable. I needed to hear more.
Divided into six parts, Basagan ng Trip is a collection of essays Leloy had written for newspapers and magazines over the course of his career. The book is a critique on our society's political and cultural "trip". Leloy doesn't mince words when talking about his stand on political issues. He eloquently calls out those who he thinks are wrong. He proudly calls these as his complaints, because he believes that "things are wrong and can be changed."
Quotes:
"It is, afterall, the lower class, the grassroots, that has the biggest stake in making things better for the majority of Filipinos. That has always been the case in most, if not all, struggles for liberation"
"Activism is autobiography in action We attach ourselves to causes not just because they are important, but also because they resonate with us."
"The key element of civility that governs all democratic societies: the respect for life."
December 22, 2019
Docked a star 'cause of the typos--counted a few in one essay then more and more followed until I just lost count; did Anvil hire copy editors for this?--but there were some gems here, especially in Parts 3 (Pop and politics), 4 (Sex and Secularism), and 5 (Notes on language, thinking, and the media). Worth a read despite the sometimes angsty language. This is a book of complaints, after all, and you really get what you pay for.
May 16, 2022
Well-written but agonizingly ordinary at times. These are interesting essays that articulate what most Filipinos in the liberal camp believe, but few are of actual significant insight. Overall, a good book to read to pass the time when one is not in the mood to read something more challenging.
October 26, 2021
I'm halfway through the book and I feel loss of interest. Maybe because I have a preconceived notion that this book would be like typical Leloy Claudio Basagan ng Trip on Youtube.
I am very fascinated with his videos, especially the one-"On the Filipinos' obsession on titles", a pure complaints on why Filipinos embrace the propensity to brag their titles. On the contrary, this book is not a purely criticism on Filipino culture but more on essays on the past Socio-Political Issues.
I am very fascinated with his videos, especially the one-"On the Filipinos' obsession on titles", a pure complaints on why Filipinos embrace the propensity to brag their titles. On the contrary, this book is not a purely criticism on Filipino culture but more on essays on the past Socio-Political Issues.
May 23, 2016
How do I criticize a critic's work? Haha
Needless to say, may nabasag si Leloy Claudio na mga trip ko while reading his book. But at the same time, may nabuo namang mga bagong trip out of his opinions.
Some of his arguments were eye-openers, some made me think about what I currently believe in, while some affirmed what I've also thought of before.
It was an insightful read. His essays delved into topics that are often overlooked and quickly dismissed by those who choose to classify things and ideologies through a strict dichotomy (good vs evil, Church vs secularism, Marcos vs Aquino).
Read this book with an open mind. Besides, nasa mambabasa naman kung sasakay siya, o MAMBABASAg din siya ng trip.
Needless to say, may nabasag si Leloy Claudio na mga trip ko while reading his book. But at the same time, may nabuo namang mga bagong trip out of his opinions.
Some of his arguments were eye-openers, some made me think about what I currently believe in, while some affirmed what I've also thought of before.
It was an insightful read. His essays delved into topics that are often overlooked and quickly dismissed by those who choose to classify things and ideologies through a strict dichotomy (good vs evil, Church vs secularism, Marcos vs Aquino).
Read this book with an open mind. Besides, nasa mambabasa naman kung sasakay siya, o MAMBABASAg din siya ng trip.
June 22, 2016
3.75/5 stars
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews