Visayans always portrayed as maids in Manila films

Gotten sick of Manila films always portraying Visayans as stupid household helpers, I started to distribute a text message regarding another racist scene in the MMFF 2007 entry Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo and my message has gotten flame, especially from the Visayans.

Sure, some would say it's no big deal. I say it's because they don't see the bigger picture of it all. It's not just about the film. It's something more, and to explain it in one sentence is almost impossible. One has to be schooled radically about the dynamics of dominant and regional cultures. It manifests even in film.

One can either pursue studies in this area to politicize his view, or turn away and reject what we are fighting for. Most likely, the members of the dominant culture will be the ones who will reject our ideology (because, duh, they will be brought down from their pedestal), along with the "indoctrinated" ones, even if belonging to the non-dominant cultures / ethnolinguistic groups.

Below is a newspaper article regarding the issue written by the founder of Save Our Languages Through Federalism (SOLFED).

Protest Against A Racist Film
By Jose Palu-Ay Dacudao

There is a war that is going on for the souls of our culture. What we do in this war will determine whether our diverse peoples would be alive and well a hundred years from now, or as dead as the dodo.

The latest round in the language war involves a racist film that openly insults Visayans. Below is a letter to Senator Pimentel a Sugbuanon-speaking Visayan from Mindanao.

To the Honorable Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.
Senate of the Philippines

This is a protest letter against the film, ‘Sakal Sakali Saklolo’, written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes, which opened on 25 December 2007 in movie houses all over the Philippines, and also serves as a petition for further action to stop discrimination against non-Tagalogs in the future.

Herein below is an excerpt from the said film that goes like this:

Yaya to grandchild: “Ayaw ug dagan, basin madam-ag ka.”

Grandchild: “Kadyut lang, nagduwa pa ko.”

(Grandfather with bulging eyes grimaces incredulously at the Visayan words of his grandson.)

Yaya: “Anhi dinhi.”

Grandmother (with a pained expression) to Grandfather: “Carlo, did you hear that?”

Mother: Ay naku Ma. Nakuha ho niya ‘yon sa yaya niya. Sinabihan na namin si Susan na huwag niyang Binibisaya si Rafa. Dapat Tagalog.”

Grandmother: “But the boy should be talking in English.”

Mother: “Hayaan niyo na sa eskwelahan matutunan ‘yon Ma. Dapat Tagalog kasi Pinoy ang anak namin eh.”

The above excerpt is defamatory, discriminatory, racist and an open insult not only to all Visayans but all non-Tagalogs as well. It conveys the message that if a person is not Tagalog or Tagalog-speaking, then he or she is not Filipino. To ask a rhetorical question, are non-Tagalogs aliens in their own country?

The Philippines is a member of the United Nations and thus its Government institutions including the Philippine Congress has an obligation to implement and follow the UN’s declarations. (See Appendix A) Moreover, the UN General Assembly has voted to declare 2008 to be the international year of languages. (See Appendix B.) The film directly contravenes UN declarations.

You, speaking for Visayans who have complained, have rightfully denounced this film in public (Appendix C). In line with this correct action we petition you to call for a Congressional hearing regarding this issue of discrimination and hatred against non-Tagalogs, and possibly sponsoring an anti-hate and anti-discrimination bill to protect the non-Tagalog peoples of the Philippines from the hatred and discrimination of Tagalistas in the future.

This is another protest letter addressed to government bodies that could possibly do something about racist films in their assigned functions.

Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia
Chairperson
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)
6th Floor President Tower
#81 Timog Avenue Cornewr Sct. Ybardaloza, Quezon City
Phone: 925-5006, 925-5007

and

Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Phone: 928-5655, 926-6188, 929-0102
Email: drpvq@...

With copy provided to the
Honorable Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.

This is a protest letter against the film, ‘Sakal Sakali Saklolo’, written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes, which opened on 25 December 2007 in movie houses all over the Philippines, and a petition to have it banned.

Hereinbelow are some important facts.

1. There is an excerpt from the said film that goes like this:

Yaya to grandchild: “Ayaw ug dagan, basin madam-ag ka.”

Grandchild: “Kadyut lang, nagduwa pa ko.”

(Grandfather with bulging eyes grimaces incredulously at the Visayan words of his grandson.)

Yaya: “Anhi dinhi.”

Grandmother (with a pained expression) to Grandfather: “Carlo, did you hear that?”

Mother: Ay naku Ma. Nakuha ho niya ‘yon sa yaya niya. Sinabihan na namin si Susan na huwag niyang Binibisaya si Rafa. Dapat Tagalog.”

Grandmother: “But the boy should be talking in English.”

Mother: “Hayaan niyo na sa eskwelahan matutunan ‘yon Ma. Dapat Tagalog kasi Pinoy ang anak namin eh.”

2. The above excerpt is defamatory, discriminatory, racist, and an open insult not only to all Visayans but all non-Tagalogs as well. It conveys the message that if a person is not Tagalog or Tagalog-speaking, then he or she is not Filipino. To ask a rhetorical question, are non-Tagalogs aliens in their own country?

3. The Philippines is a member of the United Nations and thus its Government institutions including the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have an obligation to implement and follow the UN’s declarations. (See Appendix A) Moreover, the UN has voted to declare 2008 to be the international year of languages. The film directly contravenes UN declarations.

4. Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., speaking for Visayans who have complained to him, has rightfully denounced this film in public (Annex B). In line with this correct action by the Senator, have petitioned the honorable Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. to call for a Congressional hearing regarding this issue of discrimination and hatred against non-Tagalogs, and possibly sponsoring an anti-hate and anti-discrimination bill to protect the non-Tagalog peoples of the Philippines from the hatred and discrimination of Tagalistas.

We therefore protest this film and petition that it be banned from the movies and TV.