The Bad Boy image has always been a trendsetter for males. It has been a style. Astig as they call it in tagalog. It means when you're caught up or just want to be called as such, you're either tough or macho.
It could mean different things. Astig is originally a Siga-siga in your place, a terror or formidable one-Kinatatakutan. It could also mean described as anything great or impressive. But the word has always been associated with male genders; in being masculine, or an image of machismo.
In Visayan it is called Choy. From the words Manoy and Macho. Manoy means you're not a Totoy anymore. Totoy is the one who, in adolescence period, oftentimes calling his mother for help in times of trouble-Mama's Boy.
This image has spread from all ages in adulthood in males. And it has become a lifestyle. It is also some sort of flattery if you're called as such. It has become a desirable example to be imitated. Action stars, even before, like Erap, FPJ, Rudy Fernandez, Ace Vergel, were among the true image of machismo. But the most popular of all who revolutionized and gave the whole meaning is Robin Padilla. Leather jackets, boots and tight jeans, with a cigarette in his mouth, became a popular imitation for young Filipinos in the early 1990's.
Anywhere in the country male genders know what it takes to be an Astig. But there have been some misconceptions. Or is it relevant at all to be called as such. Or is there any significance in it?
Some would want to think you should have some vices, either you smoke or drink, or both; even if you have no desire to become one, you are still considered as Astig. An Astig must have the real balls to gamble in a cockfighting arena. An Astig should have more than one girlfriend or wife, or must possess the incredible charm to attract the ladies, adapt the qualities of a playboy. Others, in principle, don't want to be called that way, although some observers see him that way. For young men they ought to do drugs, not just for curiosity and experience, but for the sake of having to belong in the “in” group. You have to smoke dope with or against your will. And consequently are into hard drugs like shabu; whether or not he is already hooked…we'll that's another story.
If we are to go back to the environment where we grew up, or the kind of parents we had in our childhood, there are theories on how to explain such phenomena. For one thing it is genetical. If our fathers, uncles or kin behaved like the bad guys, or had grown up into adulthood where their moral values has been impaired, even without knowing it, chances are we will become one, depending on the choices we make in life.
Another is simply acquired in the environment, the influence of friends, the television and the movies. As the examples I've cited, Robin Padilla and among others, the trend or the image comes into the picture. Eventually it has become a culture. Without realizing it in their later years they have already been engaged in a life within they have an image to be protected. Some find it difficult to escape. Others are hooked up-that is why there are students who hadn't able to finish college, or finished late. Most of them had no reasons to quit their vices until they suffer the consequences.
Psychologically they find it hard to accept the challenge of revealing their true selves, their true feelings. They are in a situation wherein they think it's too late for them to change their lifestyle because it has already grown up on them. Others just want to be called macho for the rest of their lives. Even bragging about how many women they've slept with, or the amount of drugs and alcohol they had consumed. Most think of it as a competition. A guy who could drink more alcohol, smoke more dopes, screw more girls, is more macho; though I've never heard anyone who's been given an award for that; or a bachelor degree for machos.
Most men believe that the women are more attracted to those types of guys than those who are not. And somehow there has some truth in that, especially with young and experienced women. But without realizing it, the ladies are only looking up to the qualities of an experienced man whom they could rely on in terms of knowing how to handle relationships.
We all know the true qualities the ladies are looking for in a man are the ones who have good hearts: sincere, honest, loyal. Not by having more than one lover, or just pretending to have to his peers, or trying to have an image of a playboy just to impress a girl. Regardless whether they are macho, or a nerd with thick eyeglasses, or a simple guy next door, as long he has the true qualities of a real man, for me that is the kind of man the ladies are looking for. Unfortunately too seldom they could find one.
