Many times Igorots or Cordillerans have been one of the victims of racial discriminations or racial slurs. It does hurt to hear such. Having been a subject for this matter, what actions have we done on our part to deal with it? Tell yourself.
Here are some few points that each one of us might want to think about:
TOO MUCH BRAGGING OF BEING AN IGOROT (or even FILIPINO when you are abroad) and that's the END of it- What does it do when you say to the person next to you that you are an Igorot, that you are from Baguio, that you are from the Philippines? What difference does it do to you as a person? Have the English people bragged about their race being an English when they conquered most of the world? Are they bragging about themselves being an English that "English is the International Language? Did Steve Jobs boasted that he is an "American" rather than being proud of his excellent Apple Gadget inventions?
"Can we think many times before we shout to the world or before we become so outspoken about us being an Igorot, Filipino or whatever identity we are in?" Are we really so different among others? If yes we have a unique difference, what does it do to the world?
Being proud of our cultural costumes, gongs, and ethnic dances? We are not so different at all. Many ethnic groups in the world have their own ethnicity and cultural authenticity. Muslims, Arabs, Western People and Chinese have their own gongs or other musical instruments, costumes and other cultural figures. They have their own music, we have our own. We are unique and different in our own terms. Nothing is on top of any other culture. We are unique in our own ways.
So here is the point, whether you are an Igorot, ilocano, tagalog, bisaya, muslim, chinese, english, american, african, arab, mexican, or whatever ethnic group or race you belong, there is no big deal and there's no point to discriminate others or boast about yourself. We are all the same but ironically unique in our own ways. Just be proud of what you can do for the world and humanity.
Being offensive or defensive, discriminatory or being so Boastful of who you are, are some kind of personal and psychological problem. Don't be one of them.
