Actress apologizes for ethnic slur vs Igorots
>> Sunday, May 17, 2009
By Gina Dizon and Julie G. Fianza
BAGUIO CITY- For saying, “Tao po ako. Hindi po ako Igorot” (I am a human being. I am not an Igorot), during her show here at SM last May 9, actress Candy Pangilinan got the ire of Igorots and non-Igorots around the world telling her to apologize publicly.
Due to insistent public demand, a crying Candy Pangilinan delivered her public apology on national TV over SNN and TV Patrol, May 13, saying she was “sorry” for what she said, even as the city council here declared her persona non grata.
Angry and sarcastic comments jammed Pangilinan’s Multiply and Facebook blogs demanding for her public apology as the actress-comedian answered the comments saying she was “truly sorry if I have uttered such insensitive remarks”.
Pangilinan with a Theater Arts degree in a prestigious institution and an actress-comedian since the early ‘90s, said she was not aware of her “insensitivity and stupidity” when she uttered said remark.
And, by wanting “to be a part of the community” she “delivered the lines wrongly”.
Comments from Igorots came as far as the US, UK, and other parts of Asia, Europe, Australia, aside from Baguio and Cordillera insiders expressing their reactions. Comments ranged from anger to sarcasm over the ethnic slur. Some email messages directed to her blog read:
Letusgoand wrote: “There is that big if there. I don't see sincerity all throughout, even as you admit your roots to be Igorots with the intent to pacify. A sincere person who genuinely and honestly admit their mistakes don't take any excuses, explanations, or conditions for whatsoever.”
Wrote joelaliping an Igorot who is “nagsasakripisyong OFW, eking out an honest living. Huwag ninyo po sana kaming hamakin at mali-itin at ipa-walang bahala Na hindi tao. Kami po ay mga tao ring may damdamin.”
Midnightsoiree from Baguio said, “Entertainment should be entertaining. Entertainment is understandably biased. Entertainment is funny. Entertainment equates enjoyment. Entertainment breeds intellect. I believe you only hit the biased part.”
Chytdaytec, a poet and an Igorot lawyer said, “Real artists use performance art to inspire noble emotions, not hatred for or discrimination against a particular ethnic group. Since you call yourself an artist, you should know that you have a social responsibility which demands that you should not promote ethnic bias.”
Such a careless remark which could dangerously breed a hostile environment as implying that Igorots are not human beings while others are, sent more irked comments coming in demanding Pangilinan’s public apology, as the pleading actress asked for forgiveness from whoever she has hurt.
Janlendl, not a full blooded Igorot , but an Igorot by birth, said, “I agree with most of them that posted a comment, that a public apology on national TV should be done if you really have the guts in doing it. Apologizing on your own page won't work. Not all people who knew about the incident have a Multiply account.”
The story stemmed from a message sent by Ingrid Gail Fernando-Tudias of La Trinidad, Benguet to baguiowebinternational@yahoogroups.com which eventually found its way to Igorot blogs, bibaknets@yahoo.com and kotim-ya-eta@yahoogroups.com, and to other social networks as Facebook and personal blogs.
Meanwhile, the Baguio City council resolution declaring Pangilinan persona non grata, authored by Councilor Fred Bagbagen said its aim was to “educate Ms. Pangilinan and others like her.”
The resolution was supported by a letter from Sheryl Phoebe Comiles Duque who witnessed what the comedienne yelled as introduction for the show, “akala nyo Igorot ako, hindi ako Igorot, tao po ako!”
Accordingly, when her statement was received by the audience with silence, she repeated what she said.
Upon hearing those words, Ms. Duque then showed displeasure and confronted the production manager for the show.
In the resolution it was stated that, the incident was an “unmindful, insensitive, sarcastic, careless and irresponsible issuance of any statement of the same nature.”
“It is believed that the statement of Candy Pangilinan that Igorots are not members of the homo sapiens displays an unmitigated bigotry and her total ignorance of the ethno-linguistic groups of her native country which is discriminatory and unpatriotic and should be condemned by peace-loving Filipinos,” the resolution also states.
There are also some ignorant persons who do not know that Igorots are also made in God’s image and treat them condescendingly as second class citizens, it was further stated.
A copy of the resolution shall be furnished to the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), ABS-CBN, Kapisanan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (KAPP) and SM-Baguio.
During the council session, there were also suggestions that shows or movies in which Pangilinan participates in, be boycotted.
As of press time, however, it was learned that Pangilinan has tearfully apologized earlier in her TV shows.
The resolution was approved during a special session last Friday morning purposely for garbage matters in the city.
4 comments:
Wow! Where was Fred Bagbagen and the whole city council, Human Rights Advocates, the Benguet Provincial Boards, BIBAKNETS, Igorot Yahoo Groups, and the mile long lists of Racism Symphatizers of Igorot descent WHEN I outed Benny Carantes of his racists commentaries about the now sitting US President Barack Obama!!!!
Where art thou folks! Of course, my rejoinder wasn't a big thing, it wasn't in the limelight, no national exposure - it was just me, a true crusader for equal rights and fair play. The fact of the matter is: a racist remark is a just that, a racist remark. If you encounter one, say something. Let's not make this issue a big thing when we feel like, when we want to, when there is something at stake, for political reasons, or being pressured by your constituents to do something, or maybe....is election coming up??
Racism is racism, let's not leave one stone unturned.
And declare Candy Pangilinan as "persona non-grata"?? Are you kidding me?? Let me make this analogy: A balut vendor says exactly what Candy said in Session Road which is a public place - would all the above people execute the same punishment? Will Fred Bagbagen and his posse of hipocrites declare the lowly vendor as an unwelcomed person? I'm just asking, I'm lost with all this charade. It's serious stuff but tittering in the same context.
Candy Pangilinan is wrong, her fake virtues are written all over her face, we all agree to that. And saying it twice only shows, she knew her scripted lines all along. I only personally lament that educated people are more intolerant of their prejudices than those who learned less. At least, the uneducated ones could care less if he/she is called ignorant.
George Washington Carver said this: "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." Again, I don't expect all of humanity to dwell on this quote but then again, we all can become a better person if we take it to heart. But the Philippines is full of condescending people with that macho attitude; "do you know who I am bullcrap!"
By the way, in defense of Dr Andrew Tauli, his remark of the Kiltepan dialect was done in jest and should not be in cyberspace. Very few people would be offended by that and unfortunately, there was one.
My late father was from Payeo, Besao and late mother is from Kiltepan. I did made fun of her dialect - she didn't mind, she smiled.
Wow..! Am overwhelmed and do agree to most of ur points. Just want to know what remark you made re: Benny Carantes? Gotta refresh my memory.
Anonymous: which part you didn't agree on? Check out the archives of the BMC sometime in late September or early October 2009.
Just read from other newspaper outlet this Lawyer Bangsoy of IBP will file criminal charges. Where do these people import such ideas? Such posturing tilts more to incompetence of benevolence and
not a lightning rod TO THE RULE OF LAW.
UNLESS, of course, EVERYONE who commits exactly the same "ignorant remark" is exacted the same punishment, no IFS, or BUTS.
Again, use my "Balut Vendor " analogy.
Would be great to send all these erring idiots who denigrade us down to the lowlands and lock-up all the entrances to the Cordilleras and Baguio. Start with the former Labo, proprietor of the Jadewell Parking, Lucy Torres, Andrew E. and any balut vendor who doesn't step in line to our tradition.
To our good lawyers, let me just share this passage from F. Scott Fitzgerald: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function".
Please don't rush to judgment and stop being self-righteous.
More pore to you Trublue, and I hope to have a cup of coffee with you one of these days, and talk about the good, the bad and the ugly.
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