Ethnic Relations and Racism: An Academic Analysis

Sunrise Paper in SOCIO 112

The moment I reflected the topics we’ve done about race, ethnic group and racism, it unlocked my mind to appreciate that we belonged equal in this world. But in the prospect of reality, the continuing struggle against inequality and social discrimination is mirrored in every corners of the world.

            An ethnic group is any collection of people distinguished by having a common race, religion, nationality, language or cultural tradition or any combination of these characteristics. Ethnic attitudes are attitudes towards members of some ethnic group based on or influenced by knowledge of membership in that group. (Bulatao, 1998)

            In our town, there were various ethnic groups that our town’s history simply designates as the first inhabitants or people.  In the previous years, our town’s officials gave an important day for them to be commemorated. These one big celebration showcases their colourful cultural heritage, traditions and way of living. The list of events includes singing contest, interpretative dance competition, indigenous sports/games and the search for beauty dubbed as Bae ng Alabel, an annual beauty contest with a sense cultural conservation. Contestants in the beauty contest wore their best traditional attire. Alabel, the capital town of Sarangani, kept its vision to be a place of peace and unity towards sustainable development in SOCSKSARGEN. But as I noticed, the mere fact were most of the people in our town don’t even care for the said event. In present, the concept of racial prejudice among this so-called cultural minorities against the majority is seen awfully high not only in my town but in the other places. I also considered myself racist because I usually laughed in racist jokes, not thinking me also injured the emotional state of these particular group of person.

            The topic about racism caught my attention and I felt guilty to myself.

            Racism has a long history, but considered to be intense during the colonial period. It became common usage, particularly after the Second World War, as a response to the horrors of the Nazi holocaust. The concept was used to highlight biological differences and therefore the superiority of one race over the other. But at present discourse or biological difference of races is rare and groups are viewed not as biological types but as cultural communities. (Panopio and Rolda, 2000)

            The sense of patriotism or love for country of Filipino seems to be premature because if somebody insult or use our country’s name in joke especially foreign people, our sense of activism seems observable and then propelled a revolution declaring those people persona non grata. But in reality, we Filipino like them were also racist. We like to laugh and make fun of other people, the worst is even inside the country Filipino tend to laugh his/her fellow Filipino. For example, a comedienne Candy Pangilinan made a joke about the Igorot. She said “Tao ako hindi Igorot” and people of that bar laughed. The angry Igorot people declared Pangalinan persona non grata in all town in the Mountain Province including Baguio City.

            When I was in my third year in high school, the trend about white supremacy over other people become hard-hitting inquiry to me. I’m be certain of for a long time that white were superior than we Filipino until such time a group of Americans went to our school. My fellow students seems to be ignorant ran out from their respective classroom, just like seeing a superstar. I who is also ignorant but a curious one noticed that our visitor seems happy recording moments and were smiling thinking that this idiot people praising them. Our school campus were amplified by shouting and glittering admirable noise that look incredible in sight of the visitors.

            Our school principal commanded all the teachers with their students to go back to their classroom immediately. He was disappointed. It seems that our principal is K.J. (killjoy) or an anti-America. He entered to our classroom. He look very serious and tell us why…Our principal studied Political Science in Boston, Massachusetts in United States and as he studied there, he personally saw how American treated other people because they were not American. He said that in some establishment in U.S.A., business owners posted in their door “no dogs allowed”. Dogs simply mean “Filipino”, he said. “We were not dogs that’s why we should not act like dog rather show to them that we were equal.” It happened long ago somewhere in 80’s.

            In that very moment I understand that we should not look ourselves inferior but rather look ourselves equal to them. Our action during that event seems irrelevant and improper and creates only an impression that we were ignorant and low-graded people. The truth is we are sometimes more superior that them. Filipino exceled in various fields such as in sports, business, academe and politics like Manny Pacquiao, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Carlos P. Romulo, Henry Sy and voluminous. I appreciate the determination of our principal as he able to open our naked eyes and hibernated mind to feel that we shall boost our sense of real patriotism and factual nationalism. As I look back four decades in our past, when President Marcos fantasized for a superior Filipino race inspired by Hitler’s Aryan supremacy but it failed because of purported political colour. During that time, the Filipino people gained high respect from other foreign dignitaries that our beloved Digong trying to replicate. But I hope, the Punisher must study the past in order not to repeat the failure of yesterday over and over again. The failure of the past must remained in the past.

            The failure to meet the justifiable development of our country relied in the hand of our government to create edicts that will unified the archipelago into one. If we were one then we can do things harmoniously. Wars and conflicts might be avoided because of it. Respect begets respect. Only we can see the bright future if we plant the seed of peace today.

            I accept as true that someday, ethnic groups in the Philippines whatever size it was will create a common ground for solidarity and honour in order to build a better nation. Just like Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”