WAKE UP!!!

I complained about that racist RGMA program "Big Time Balita" and I hope the stereotyping stopped as the show was moved in the late afternoon with a new title. The Bisaya stereotype character Bai - the show's clown only appears on Saturday. I will not let say whether the hateful program has actually stopped I'll have to confirm it first. I felt relieved at the moment for its weekday program has no Bai in it and therefore no disgusting joke would come his way - after all he usually says he is the representative of the Bisaya people. However the genius at RGMA made his character dumb. So the envoy of the Bisaya is stupid as the program suggests. Though I'm not a Bisaya I was appalled by "Big Time Balita" lack of respect towards non-Tagalog Filipinos. I'll check tomorrow and I'll lash out if the outmoded comedy style is still used.

Speaking of racists clowns here is another one:

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@yahoo.com

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.

Dr. Jose Palu-ay Dacudao (sgd)
On behalf of Save Our Languages Through Federalism, Inc, Foundation (SOLFED) and myself as an individual.

You know what the movie exposed - hypocrisy. One of the film's staff is supposedly a staunch advocate of equal rights which I think is only applicable if his own kind was involved. Be more consistent next time, how can we give you equality when you can't reciprocate it with other people different from you?

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