Igorot Slur on a Filipino Blog
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I was searching the latest blog entries on "Igorots" and the above was what I found at the blog of a Filipina named Francesca. I couldn't believe my eyes! I re-read the post, and was hoping that it was a typo - it was not! To the author, "igorot" meant someone who didn't understand. So I commented on her blog saying that I was offended by her remark regarding Igorots. I also requested if she can correct the error.
To her credit, she did admit that she was indeed ignorant on Igorots and that "No harm intent". However, she said that she wasn't changing anything. I emailed her requesting if she can re-consider my request on changing that particular comment. In a most cordial manner, I informed her that she was being prejudiced and it was just right that she correct it. She replied back that she's not changing anything, and I quote "If people do not like what you say, they just go somewhere else, Go fishing, or visit other blogs. Im thinking of shooting myself instead. (Wink)"
Incredible! A few years back, Filipinos around the world reacted when a dictionary defined "Filipina" as a "domestic helper". That's definitely a slur. Now here's a fellow Filipino who is looking down on an entire Filipino ethnic group, and refuses to correct a comment she obviously made in ignorance. Where in the world is she coming from? Is it lack of proper education or manners? Maybe ignorance of a blogger's responsibility? Or is it simply being stubborn?
In the late 1990s, actress Lucy Torres-Gomez's character in an ABS-CBN TV show, said that another character's weirdo-ness was attributed to her father being an Igorot. A letter I made to the Inquirer denouncing that comment was made into an article, and eventually, Lucy Torres-Gomez was summoned to Congress where she was made to offer an explanation. ABS-CBN also provided written apologies saying that there was no intent to demean, and that they'll ensure that it will not happen again in future shows.
I'm not demanding an apology from the blogger - she seems to have made her mind about not changing anything even if it is the only right thing to do. If there's a lesson to be learned from this, its the fact that some Filipinos still think that the word "igorot" is a negative word. If I need to keep on writing on this blog to correct that misconception, so be it.
Visit Francesca's Blog from this link.
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Fellow Igorots who have made commentaries on this:
Call of Nature
Glorife Sayang-od
Posts
21 comments:
Sino ba iyang Francesca na iyan at kung mang-insulto ng Igorot ay akala mo kung sino? Nagpakasal lang ng matandang dayuhan ay akala mo, napaka-taas na ang kanyang ihi.
To Anonymous, no need for personal attacks. If one is to react to these type of things, the best way to do it is in a civilized way. Thanks for reading.
Well written commentary. I am not an Igorot, but have lots of Igorot in my circle of friends and I dont agree with what the blogger wrote. It could have been any Filipino ethnic group. It's sad to know that its coming from another Filipino.
I felt so sorry finding your blog by her POST.
You have great post regarding sagada. that i would surely be enjoying reading.
Regarding her post.I hope she will consider on deleting or omiting the igorot word.I don't see why she needs to name people,too.
You're effort on correcting her is enough, it's up to her to do her part.
Bravo to your effort!
halu kabsat, i only got to learn about this issue through your blog. thanks. i may also be writing about my take on the matter later... keep blogging!
I'd want to believe that those 4,000 plus who voted for Gomez as senator last year were not true blue igorots. If they were, it only shows that we igorots are not so solid even in the face of discrimination. A fact of life which cannot be over-emphasized over and over.
Cheers to all your readers and goodhealth as well.
Hi, I went to this site after reading Francesca's post. Nice reaction you have in here - intelligently written and open-minded.
It was horrible for her to write such and I'm saddened of her stubborness to correct her phrases. But let it be. Her reaction is just a mirror of what she truly is.
More power!
-A filipino in France-
To TruBlue and Anonymous June 4, 2008 4:15 AM,
Appreciate you stopping by and writing. As a wise Indian man said, if you stand up straight, no one will step on your back. (Or so that's how I remember it. Sorry if its a beauty pageant answer but it's apt, hehehe.)
We Igorots know what we are. No one can change that. "Forgive her coz she doesn't know what she is doing"
It is pleasant to see the collective consciousness among our fellow Igorots of the need to educate the misinformed world about us and our culture....What is disappointing,is the vulgarity and crudeness of some "tay am-am-amed et nus" Francesca.It would have been more productive if we did it with respect and civility.Surely, a little tact will get us a better response rather than being aggressive....ay baken ngen?
Malabong, I agree with you 100%. The reason why I contacted Francesca by email on Day 1 was to prevent a heated debate. One can always make a point, but to do it in the proper way is another thing. Its sad that it had to happen this way.
The cavalier posturing attitude she has shown by her arrogance and childish demeanor towards the majority of the commenters just got sensible people hyped up, Igorots and our supporters. I don't blame them one bit.
She had the choice to do the right thing and it came down to morality issue when she never budged down and well-supported by her husband which was kinda odd for a Frenchman.
A prime example of this type of situation which never GOT OUT OF HAND WAS THIS: In Seattle, Washington a few years ago, a lady from Pangasinan (not Ilocano speaking) was libid when a Filipino writer of a magazine referred to their ethnicity as "Panggalatot". She wrote to him
and explained that "word" was very offensive asked it won't happen again. End of the story. Two people with brains.
We all wished she apologized after your email.
I commented in her blog that "she was always aware of our culture" and that she was just pretending based on her countless inconsistent reasonings. Maybe, just maybe, she was spurned by a true blue like me/us during her prime.
Cheers to you all and goodhealth.
I was unaware of the issue until i found it out on a comment on hardy caligtan's song on youtube. And so i googled it and found this blog entry instead.
It is true that the word "igorot" has misconceptions, as if it speaks of someone of ignorant behavior or a person far from civilization which, as we all know, is not true. It only proves that some arrogant Filipino's are not aware of the Igorot culture and its global organization.
Her blog is really insulting and moreover demeaning for a writer. She writes without ethical values- not knowing of how others might feel. Her blog only speaks of negative criticism. (anya kuma biang na with igorots ngay?)
Anyway brother, you wrote it well and your efforts to correct this insulting matter is highly appreciated by the Filipino community.
MATAGO-TAGO TAKO AM-IN!
the blogger's real name is amy, and hwag nang patulan. saksakan lang siya ng tanga. - joyce
Amy's words indicate that she is IGNORANT and ARROGANT. I'm from Iloilo and I work as an accountant for a successful Igorot businessman here in California. This Amy doesn't know what she is talking about. My boss is very generous, very fair, and employs 100+ staff - some Fil-Ams, majority are Americans. Of course, he wouldn't be so successful if he doesn't understand the importance of paperwork and time. Tanga at boba talaga itong si Amy.
i am an Igorot..actually,i am finding ways to communicate with that jackass s@#$%t..sorry for the word..and the manners...but i don't like it when people look down on others especially if the words come from the mouth of fellow countrymen..if she's that ignorant..she shouldn't say things she really dont know..how could she say such words?look at her looks..i dont like discriminating people but not when it comes to ethnicity..look at her..she keeps on posting on her blogs about people who changes just because they are in other countries and marrying foreigners..but she,herself ate those words because she's doing it..maid??agbain met kuma..katulong lng gyam akala mo kng sino na magsalita..pangit na nga lang..pangit pa nsa loob nia..she ought to go to hell..and if she dont change her manner or attitude..maybe she ought to go to school to learn her GMRC..good manners and right conduct..oh!i forgot..oo nga noh..maid lng gyam pman sunga han na ammo araramiden na..naulaw takki na met ah di naki asawa ti puraw..pati jy puraw,naulaw met kanyana..Igorot women are way too prettier than you!!!sorry but i have no choice..im fed up with all this nasty words you say with igorot people..matago tago tako am-in ay igorot!!
from japan
wow ngaun ko lang nabasa tong about igorots of francesca in france
it hurts adi
meaning that the woman itself dont know who she is
i tell u
igorots in phil
are compared to samurai here in japan
ahhh atama warui na
forgive her thats who we are
mangamung ci kabunyan
matago tago tako am in
- igorots from kagoshima japan
Shoot! Huli ako ng balita!!! Sana nakita ko ito noon? Amy (aka Francesca)has a poor upbringing. I noticed that nobody question what kind of environment she came from (family wise)? Like what they said, if your parents is this and that, more likely you will act exactly the same when you grow up. I think her parents have no access of TV, newspaper or radio. Oh kaya no read no write sila???? I believed she learned this behavior from her parents. Most peaple who act like this is mainly uneducated ignorant people. For God sake we already in the 21 first century!!!
I am not a regular blog reader but if there is an article that caught my interest I am giving my time to it. I am also a Filipino, grew up in a civilized community but it breaks my heart every time I read or heard discrimination by a Filipino to its countrymen in any way and in any form. This certain Francesca is an example of a person who just keeps on talking or writing on her blog without doing any research first. If ever there will be another "ignorant" person who will pass by her page and read this "igorot" thing he/she will be the Francesca #2 and will be part of the community who is contented already on what they learned from "kalye" and will talk in a way that as if they know everything.
I would understand if it is a foreigner who said such thing to a Filipino, but a Filipino itself - is unacceptable.. nakakahiya!
Pathetic and lack of understanding...not just the Fracesca but all of her kind.
Thanks for posting the link of the blog of that person, but reading any entry of that blogger will be a waste of time.
Keep up the good work. Though this is an old blog already, it's never too late for me to learn that there is an igorot-ignorant person who does exist.
"Ignorance is fatal indeed."
Talaga ba nga kastoy nalng ti trato da? ganito nalng ba ang tingin ng mga tao saaming mga igorot?
parang angbabaw ng uri namin kesa sa iba, gaya nalng ng discrimination of white people to Black community sa ibang lugar..
wow, Bisorot(Bisaya-Igorot) man ako, 50/50 man ang lahi ko, but still im proud to be an "igorot", and that cannot be change
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