A True Proud Filipino?

On September 12^th, a person calling him/herself “A True Proud Filipino” commented on my blog titled, “Coming – My First Novel, “Igorotak: The Warrior Within.”  It made my blood boil for about an hour, but I settled down and accepted it as a challenge to continue writing.  Shortly thereafter, I began receiving support and encouragement from friends and relatives via Facebook, email and the blog comments. 

I almost deleted the comment, but decided to leave it for people to see how ridiculous “this person’s” (as I will refer to him hereon) comments are.  I also enabled the comment managing tool on the blog so that all comments have to be approved before they are posted to control the possibility of this turning into a bashing contest.   I don’t want my blog fueling any animosity that exists between Filipinos.  If anything, I want it to bring understanding and unity.  Well, I was pleased to see the positive responses that contested this person’s comment.  I approved most of them, except for a few that used profanity.

I was a bit surprised though at the ten comments supporting this person, and the stupidity they contained.  I decided to allow the comments of milder stupidity to appear only to show the sad reality that exists between Filipinos.  One comment, however, caught my attention.

The comment is from a J.Rios.  I was able to read it with an open mind because it was done in a thoughtful and tactical manner.  Rather than just allowing it to post under the rest of the comments, I am dedicating this blog to this particular comment.  To read his comment:  Derogative Comment by "A True Proud Filipino"

MY RESPONSE:

Dear Mr. Rios,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the manner they are shared.  Though I don’t agree with most of it; they are sincere nonetheless, and deserving of dialogue.  So, I hope we could have some good dialogue without the nasty and immature attacks that I have read thus far.

To begin, this whole discrimination thing between Igorots and Filipinos is relatively new to me.   Unlike you, I was raised almost my entire life here in America.  The grammar and high schools that I attended were predominately white (99%).  Most of my friends were white Americans.  I had very little interaction with other non-Igorot Filipinos or Filipinos for that matter.  Our close family friends were Igorot and so I thought all Filipinos were Igorot.

In high school, I had a very good friend named Dan Ybanez.  He was like my older brother.  We called each other “blood” or “cuz.”  I even lived with his family for a year while my parents had to tend to business in another state.  His family is from Cebu, but I had no idea we were different.  “We” both saw each other as Filipino. 

When I was in the U.S. Marine Corps, I remember going to different bases out of town and meeting other Filipinos.  I would meet a Filipino and we instantly became friends as if we were related or knew each other for a long time.  Since all of the Pinoy I mentioned were American-Filipino, they never bothered to ask if I was Igorot and I never felt the need to mention it.  It wasn’t until my adult life that I began learning about the ignorance that exists between “some” Igorots and “some” non-Igorot Filipinos. 

When I first returned back home to the Mountain Province in 1997, I remembered my relatives telling me stories of how “lowlanders” have misconceived notions and stereotypes about Igorots.  At the time, I was too engrossed in the fun I was having that I paid little attention to any topic of discrimination.  After that trip, I began to really take interest in my Igorot heritage and read what I could to learn more. 

As years went by, small glimpses and flashbacks from my childhood years in America proved as evidence that my parents saw themselves as “different” from other Filipinos.  I recall them referring to us as “we” and non-Igorots as “they.”  It was never in a derogative manner, but simply a way of identifying themselves amongst the Filipino community.  I recalled how they spoke “our” language (Kankanaey) at home and with close friends, and “their” language (Tagalog) with every other Filipino.  Their stories of how they grew up painted a portrait in my mind of a simpler, yet happier life than other Filipinos, whom they sort of perceived as being the type to show off their possessions, titles, education and so forth.   I somehow also got the impression that “we” aren’t impressed with someone simply because they were doctors or lawyers.

Strangely enough, I experienced a recent event that really made such differences clear to me.  I went to watch a comedy show featuring the Filipino comedian, Rex Navarette.  I heard some of his material before on youtube and was sure I would have a great time, especially since we are both American-Filipinos.  I was certain I could relate to his humor.  The fundraising show was a success with a full house of close to 1,000 people.  The whole theatre was laughing and cracking up at his jokes, except for me (as it seemed).

I felt like I was listening to George Lopez.  The material was somewhat funny, but only because of my imagination.  Most of the time, I sat there smiling when everyone laughed so hard because I didn’t relate with many of his jokes.  Things like Filipino spaghetti (one of his big jokes) or how Filipinos acted at Filipino funerals didn’t relate to me at all.  In fact, the first time I ate "Filipino spaghetti" was in high school at one of Dan Ybanez’ family parties.  As for funerals, what he described seemed like a few of the Mexican funerals I attended in the past, not the Filipino (Igorot) funerals of family friends and relatives.  I realize he's a comedian and that I shouldn't look to deep into his act, but I couldn't help but realize again the differences between Igorots and non-Igorot Filipinos.  In short, I sat there thinking, “Wow, I really am different.  Wow, Igorots really are different.”

Now that I have more Igorot friends, I learn more and more about the clear cultural differences that exist between us Igorots and other Filipinos.  One reason why I decided to focus on your comment is because I heard the same story that you described about how parents in Manila instill fear of Igorots in their children.  I heard this from a good friend who admitted being told such things by his parents as a child in Manila.  I know his parents, and they are some of the best people I know.  I can't image them doing such a thing today, but something in them led them to their wrong beliefs of Igorots back then.  This is why I believe there is some truth in what you say regarding the realism of discrimmination.

Discrimination is everywhere in every culture.  I won't argue that it doesn't exist within Filipinos because I experience mild versions of it even today.  For example, I still get looks from non-Igorot Filipinos when I tell them I’m Igorot.  Their eyes or facial expressions accompanied with a, "Oh, really, but you don't look Igorot" sentiment always cracks me up inside.  I’m still spoken to in Tagalog even after I tell people I don’t speak Tagalog.  On a few occasions, after telling them I'm Igorot, they really lay down the Tagalog as if to make me feel left out, envious or something.  I got tired of this and now I just say, "Ay sica san menkali Tagalog," and I just smile at their surprised reaction after I put them in my shoes.  I will agrue though, that this discrimmination you mention is NOT as widespread as you portray it to be.  I know alot more good non-discrimminating Pinoy than I do bad.

You’re probably right about people not admitting it because of our social climate of political correctness.  Even though we have a black President, I still see how some white Americans look or act negatively around black American and how Mexicans are looked down upon by many.    We could get into a long drawn out debate supporting our beliefs and convictions, but it still won’t change the fact that Igorots and other Filipinos are very different in many ways.    

I learned growing up here in America that it’s not what happens to us that determine our outcome, but how we react to these things that are most important.  I firmly believe that the most important thing for Igorots and non-Igorot Filipinos is to try understanding each other and embrace our differences in a positive way without losing our sense of who we are. 

One of my best of friends, Joe O., is not Igorot.  He is a Chicago south-side raised Tagalog Filipino.  We go back some twenty years.  I don’t see him as a Filipino, though he is.  I see him as a brotha (from another motha).  Yet, I still know who I am and he know who he is.  I hope everyone reading this can see our fellow Filipinos (Igorot, Tagalog, Cebuano, Visayan, Moro and so forth)in the same light: a light of unity.

I purposely did not comment on your other topics (Younger generation Igorots, loss of Igorot pride, language, etc)  because I don’t know how to comment on them since I was raised here in America.  I hope others can join in this “dialogue” to shed some more light on these things.  Thanks again J.Rios, sir.