A Law Against -Racism

May 15, 2009

To

Mauricio G. Domogan

Representative, Lone District of Baguio City

Rm. N-217, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Philippines

Samuel M. Dangwa

Representative,   Lone District   of Benguet

Rm. S-517, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Solomon R. Chungalao

Representative,   Lone District of Ifugao

Rm. S-219, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Cecilia M. Seares-Luna

Representative,   Lone District of Abra

Rm. S-608, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Elias Jr   C. Bulut.  

Representative,   Lone District of Apayao

Rm. N-111, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Manuel S. Agyao  

Representative, Lone District of Kalinga/

Caretaker-Representative   for Mountain Province

Rm. N-502, House of Representatives, Quezon City

PETITION

Respectfully   requesting your attention to pass a special law against racism and the accompanying sanctions that go with it with respect to artists, entertainers, movie/TV and station managers, and those in the entertainment industry.

On May   9, 2009   during   a show at SM Baguio City,   actress   Candy Pangilinan said, “Tao po ako. Hindi po ako Igorot” ( I am a human being. I am not an Igorot) =. She said this remark twice. Once, when she walked down the run-way   after   greeting the audience, and the second time when she appeared on stage.   

The ethnic   slur happened in Baguio City, homeland   of   a number of Igorot –Ibalois, Igorot – Kankanaeys,   Igorot- i-Montayosa, Igorot –Kalingas, Igorot-Ifugaos, Igorot- Apayaos and   Igorot- Tingguians and Igorots i-Abra .  

Candy Pangilinan’s   remark   gathered   angry   and hurt reactions   from   Igorots   and other non-Igorots as well   which   jammed her blog,   http://candiva.multiply.com/ , demanding for her   public apology.  

While Ms Pangilinan issued a personal apology in her blog and also a public apology on national TV, SNN, ABS-CBN,   and TV Patrol last May 13,   we specially   forward   that   Ms Candy Pangilinan’s   act and foregoing   consequences,   serve as a   living reminder   for artists   to imbibe   social responsibility   in their   chosen career,   respect   cultural   diversities,   observe   human   and collective rights of   peoples,    sustain the molding   of   relevant   Filipino and sound cultural values   while   maintaining artistic   freedom and expression.   

The relatively same incident happened in1999 when actress Lucy Torres- Gomez said to another character in an ABS-CBN show, “Ang pangit mo naman, Igorot siguro parents mo” (You’re so ugly, maybe your parents are   Igorots).

Pangilinan’s statement was a manifestation of racism where she strongly implied that Igorots are not human beings and that she is human.   Similarly, in Torres’ remark, obviously said that Igorots as a people are ugly- looking,   thus implying that non-Igorots are good looking.   The attitude of superiority is very evident over a tribe which is made inferior.  

Espousing racial slurs breed   hostile and/or uncomfortable environment where one is made to feel inferior while the other is superior. And with this, such would not be a healthy community to live in as it eats away the sense and the right of equality among humans.  

And while this continues, propagated by some artists in Philippine cinema, ethnic bias will alarmingly disrupt good community relationships   between and among   anyone   regardless of race, ethnicity and color.     

We, signatories to this petition, members of the Igorot ethnolinguistic   tribe who come from different parts of the Cordillera region, are one among   a number of Philippine ethno-linguistic tribes,   who   have    distinct   and diverse culture     which   commands respect .

Considering   the above, we seek   your appropriate action to this petition in   your continued   role to promote   camaraderie among   all Filipinos,   uphold human rights and people’s cultural rights as well,   promote good Filipino values,   preserve   cultural heritage, while upholding freedom of   expression.      

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