It was a joke, UP student Arvin Labrador tells angry netizens on BBC comic quip on Pinoy children
Written by Arvin Reno Labrador
abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/06/18/13/pinoys-mock-racist-joke-uk-comedy-show
“This clip from BBC’s new segment has gained a recent popularity amongst our ‘makabayans’; notice how I use ‘makabayan’ instead of ‘kababayans’. When I had first seen the link on facebook, only a few had been commenting on the clip, most of which disapproved of what the comedian had said. Now though, in my opinion, the issue, which should not have been an issue in the first place, has been blown to proportions of epicness. The fact that it has even reached the pages of abs-cbn, enabling it to be called “newsworthy,” is beyond me.
“Now while the ethics of the “netizens” involved in mocking the joke appear to be non-existent – and I believe I have every right to be as rude and as obnoxious to them as they are being to the poor comedian – this is a post about the article itself and not on the embarrassing demeanor of my fellow citizens (I really hope not). Though I’m pretty sure I’ve said enough about ‘them’.
“The article gets straight to the point where it caught public eye. No pre-made comments, no welcoming speeches and no segues; just a well-cut title and the heart of the issue. It presents clear pictures of both sides, of the comedian and the positive and (alarming rate of) negative feedback. There was no underlying implications on what the writer’s stand on the issue was. She presented an issue, showed every side of the equation and left the reader to make their own decisions. No lines were crossed in how the report was handled and I believe everyone was given a fair chance at the spotlight. I commend her for not hinting at whether or not she found the clip ‘racist’ and treated the story tactfully.
“As for the clip itself. The whole thing was a joke. The person who posted it should’ve posted the whole segment and not just parts of it. Clearly an unethical pursuit according to the code for points of omission and bias. This would have defeated the whole purpose of proving his point but at least I wouldn’t be judging him as someone who was seeking attention: “Oh look, someone said something bad about my country, I should edit this and post it and have people all see how good I was for saving the country.” Srsly? Even then, the title clearly said it all, need I stress on the word “unlikely”? People who took offense from it should’ve just said so but refrained from throwing in names and insults. Solving conflict with more conflict is counter productive.
“I definitely admire how Katherine Ryan stood her ground against the vulgarity of those who opposed her. Even more, I admire the (very few) Filipinos who opposed those who had nothing good to say about her. Ryan was not as offensive. Instead, she helped those who didn’t get the joke understand the whole scenario. She was the ‘bigger man,’ and she gets my approval.” posted by Arvin Reno Labrador
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I am a British man married to a filipina and we have two filipino children. I fully understood the context of the show and also understood the reasons behind the segment of the show ‘Unlikely lines a cosmetics company would say’
I would not call myself a ‘Netizen’ and did not intend to make this into a bigger issue, I am upset and offended by some of the threats towards Katherine over this. However I organised a protest outside the BBC in London a couple of weeks ago and have also organised a further protest on Friday July 12th, again outside the BBC. I also organised a petition which to date has nearly 1,300 signatures.
My reasons for doing all of this are simple, for far too long Filipinos have been used as a butt of jokes from Victoria Wood in the 90’s, Harry and Paul a few years back, the Lara Bohinc incident (google all of the above and add the words ‘filipino’ and you can read about them).
Katherine Ryan did not have to refer to ‘filipino children’ at all, it simply was not funny, why refer to any nationality, I believe she would find any nationality would have also reacted badly. Hopefully you won’t accuse me of being a ‘Netizen’ or some Pinoy with a grudge, I am neither, as I said, I am a 100% British guy who just cannot accept any filipino being used as a joke, the use of any nationality in a negative or derogatory way could be described as racist, I will not rest until both Katherine Ryan and indeed the BBC apologise unreservedly.
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I have been to the Philippines 15 times, several of my closest friends are Filipino. They are some of the most kind people I have met, I also have many Transsexual friends from the Philippines and still in the Philippines, and see a lot of discrimination towards them too. They are people too, that have real feelings like anyone else. So please try to be tolerant of all Filipinos! Equality for all humans!!
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Pardon me Mr. Labrador I just want to ask you one thing, have you ever watch more of ‘mock the week’? I don’t think you do, This kind of name calling against ‘Pilipinos’ are getting absurd and if we will not stand or hold a petition against it, we will always be used as the laughing stock of the world. Just some insights, I have happen to watched one of their episode making jokes about ‘if my mother is Pilipino’ and another thing ‘I compare this dish washer to this dish washer and the Pilipino is better’. The last one seems to be some sort of compliments but nevertheless they should not even mentioned Pilipinos even as a joke. The ‘if my mother is Pilipino’ was more disgusting at one point saying Pilipino mothers are some sort of no good mothers. (The used of ‘P’ instead of F is intentional) I do not belong to your so called netizens nor haters keyboard warriors, am just an ordinary Pilipino who is trying to exercise my freedom expression trying my very best not to offend any one. Last thing, Mr. Labrador “Prejudice is only in the mind, when you put it into words or action then it become discriminatory” and I abhor your use of the word ‘makabayans’.
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