I was reading the status updates in my Facebook account when I stumbled on a link of an auction site. And, boy, you would not believe what I saw– (read this) PROUDLYPINOY.ORG is being auctioned! by noypi.

I was really baffled as to why there are a lot of famous Filipino-owned blogs that carry the logo of Proudly Pinoy with the words “FOR SALE” plastered on it. And, when I saw Proudly Pinoy added to an auction site by the user Noypi, I came to an understanding that maybe, this site for-by Filipinos is being opened to the market.

True or not, I could not help but feel disappointed.

The site Proudly Pinoy serves as an online community for Filipinos. It has served as our own little continent in the online world. For a long time, it embodies our pride of having our own identity in the online community where Filipinos could merge our beliefs and culture with the developing technology. If it is indeed true that the site is for sale, then what would happen to that identity? What would become of our Filipino continent in the online community? And, most of all, where would my pride as a Filipino go when the site intended for my identity is being sold to anybody who could afford it. It seems to say that our being Filipinos actually has a price.

Well, at the end of the day, we could not do anything if the site would be bought by the highest bidder. But then again, you could not blame me, along with other Filipinos to feel disgust because our identity has become another commodity in the marketplace – so much with the idea of our culture being priceless.