Oh Please

     Every sports fan has probably heard about it by now.  Two members of the Azkals, the Philippine Men's National Football Team, were accused of sexual harassment by AFC Commisioner and former presidential daughter Cristy Ramos Jalasco.  Now, people have apparently decided to take sides on this issue in a classic he said/she said situation, but there really is no side to take.  There is only the truth.  If Angel Guirado and Lex Moy did what Ramos Jalasco alleged, then they must pay.  If they didn't sexually harass her, then she must explain her actions and resign from her position.  

     The real dangerous issue here though is not the incident itself.  Yes, it's a serious matter, but both parties are adults here, with enough influence to ensure justice is done.  The real danger is in the resulting prose coming out of supposed respected members of the media.  It started with the papers, reviving the same prose the PBA and its players had to endure; about how Fil-Ams and other FIlipinos of mixed heritage are not "real" Filipinos and how they bring nothing but trouble.  Last time, during the wave of FIl-ams invaded the PBA, supposed experts accused them of "stealing" jobs from "true-blooded" Pinoys and condemned them as if it were the Spanish Inquisition.  Now, it's beginning again. From Al Mendoza to Recah Trinidad to Manolo Inigo, the hate just spilled out, blaming their mixed origins, accusing them of lacking manners and breeding.  Then there was this, by GMA7 reporter Arnold Clavio.  Never mind that he is from GMA7, the rival network of ABS CBN, which supoprts the Azkals.  At the 50 second mark, Clavio turns from a blowhole into a full-pledged ass.  





     His masterpiece of a speech included, "Hindi naman kayo Pilipino.  Nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi." ("You are not Filipino. You are pretending to have caramel complexion.")  Not to be a smart aleck, but Moy looks pretty kayumanggi to me.  Seriously, though, this is where everything becomes a farce.   This is such an old issue and the fact that it's resurfacing just shows how much racism is prevalent in our nation, most likely brought about by the numerous foreign countries which occupied us. 

     Oh please.  Since when did being Filipino become a matter of blood or color? If Clavio and all these writers are so adamant about being true Filipinos then they need to excuse themselves as well, unless they are of pure blood from the Filipino indigenous tribes.  After all, they're looking for "real" FIlipinos here.  How can Jose Rizal be a true national hero then, when he is of mixed origin? 


      Being Filipino has never been about skin color, race or place of birth.  That is why you can be born anywhere and still be Pinoy.  Being Filipino has always been about heart.  It is about love of country and family, respect for elders, ingenious adaptability and warm hospitality.  It is about deciding to sacrifice your body, blood, sweat, tears to play for the country.  It is about declaring to the world that you are proud of your roots.


     If there really are Filipinos of mixed heritage that err, then I'd be the first to stand in line in condemning them.  If all we have are allegations,  then it is intensely stupid to condemn all of our national athletes of mixed heritage. Heck, even if Guirado and Moy are found guilty, it is still stupid to condemn all the other athletes.  These are men and women who chose to play here and represent us.  They have the ability to compete and they chose to declare their FIlipino citizenship and help make us proud and lift our country's morale.  To call them anything less than true Filipinos is a hate crime. Plain and simple. 


photos courtesy of ellentordesillas.com, azkalsfootballteam.com