Filipinos – Racially Discriminated (Part 1)

Racial discrimination is not without a perceived superiority on the part of the slanderer and humiliation against the target. It has been a pandemic without a cure. No one is exempted. It yields hatred and war and it is an affair we cannot escape. There is no Utopia.

I hear stories of racial discrimination against Filipinos wherever they are or were around the world. This is very appalling to say the least. Filipinos are categorically called by all derogatory names like monkey, pig, rat, filthy, poor, beggar, scumbag, thief, corrupt, idiot, stupid etc.

I’ve heard, read and watched enough of this detestable act towards Filipinos by non-Filipinos and I’m sick of it. But why do they pick on us? Is it because we’re poor, third-world South-East Asians? Or is it because of something else?

As I was pondering about this abominable act, I came across with some revelations that White people are no exception from these racial slurs as they are racially discriminated as well. Filipinos, on the other hand, are just as guilty offenders as the rest of the human race.

Filipinos always use names to refer to other races they see on the street or mingle in schools or offices. Filipinos can either be naïve or ignorant with regards to naming non-Filipinos. Here are some examples:

• Amerikano – any white or Caucasian person they see regardless of nationality.
• Negro – any black person regardless of nationality. It also applies to dark-skinned Filipinos. By the way, most Filipinos are naïve when using this name to black people but black people find it offensive.
• Intsik – Chinese. It also applies to Filipinos with Chinese features.
• Hapon – Japanese. It also applies to Filipinos with Japanese features.
• Koreano – Koreans. It also applies to Filipinos with features in between Chinese and Japanese.
• Arabyano – anyone that looks like Arabian regardless of nationality.
• Bombay – anyone that looks like Indian regardless of nationality.
• Latino – any Mexican-looking person regardless of nationality.

And Filipinos naively or deliberately prejudice these people as:

• Burikano (Caucasians) – rich and pedophiles.
• Negro (Blacks) – athlethic, rapper, bluesmen and inferior people.
• Intsik, Singkit (Chinese) – Kung-Fu masters, Shaolin and businessmen who take advantage in business.
• Sakang [bowlegged] (Japanese) – Samurai, Ninja, Yakuza and makers of high-quality Asian cars, gadgets and things.
• Kimchi, Kim Jong-il (Koreans) – smells like Kimchi.
• Arabo (Middle East Asians) – bad body odor.
• Bombay (Indians) – engaged in “5-6” (an underground economy of lending with very high interest rates). Bad body odor.
• Latinos – just like us.

If you are non-Filipino and you happen to be in the Philippines, you must have been called with one of these racial slurs.

It is obvious that racial discrimination is ubiquitous. So, how are we going to deal with it? Here are my suggestions:

• Education – it should be taught by parents and schools that naming names is offensive.
• Acknowledgement – we should all acknowledge that we all have this DISEASE and strive to find a cure.
• Immunization – what about if you call back the person who racially discriminate you with a racial slur?

Example:
American: Hey MONKEY, get the F!@# out of my country!
Filipino: It’s not my fault PEDOPHILE. I’m an immigrant as your forefathers were to this land. Besides, your government granted me my Visa.

If we hear these racial slurs constantly, I’m convinced that in due time we will all be unaffected about it.

I suppose “Tolerance” will have its end and “Ignoring” will only make it worse so, these are not a viable solution.

Part 2