Saturday, March 17, 2012

The Askals, Kayumanggi and Arnold Clavio

"Do they look like your ordinary Pinoys?"
Let's put everything in its correct perspective. Arnold Clavio, radio broadcaster of DZBB, was discussing about the sexual harassment case filed against some members of the Philippine Askals. Cristy Ramos, who happens to be a good friend, filed the case which stemmed from the treatment she got from these footballers. Some of the Askals reportedly said some sexist remarks which offended Ramos. 

While reporting this, it was pretty much at this stage when Arnold dropped the "bomb". He was quoted as saying: " Hindi naman sila Pilipino e, nagkukunwari lang silang kayumanggi (They’re not really Filipinos, they are just pretending to be kayumanggi."

That terse phrase infuriated many, especially Fil-Ams or mestizos whose fathers or mothers are of foreign blood. They took offense when Clavio mentioned the word "kayumanggi" and used this to describe what the Askals or some of the Askals are not. 

What is this term kayumanggi? Is this about the color of one's skin only? No. It pertains to a class of people who were born not as white as Ilustrados or those who previously colonized this country. Before, it pertains to one's skin but now, it has morphed into something more precious than skin color---one's world perspective and one's culture. 

I am not defending Mr. Clavio here--but I am only situating his remark during the time he mentioned it. Clavio was not issuing a racist remark, far from it. He was stating a fact.

Ask these Askals if they already elected Philippine citizenship and most of them would tell you the truth---some of them are holders of dual passports. 

If they are really sincere nationalists, they will not hesitate to apply for Philippine citizenship. I think the Senate should look into this because Clavio's remark has a deeper meaning than previously thought. 

Sincerely, ask some of these Askals what their real motivation for coming here are and you'll be surprised with their answers. And let us, matter-o-factly address the prevailing views of many Filipinos why some of these Askals, especially those who sexually harrassed Cristy Ramos are here---in droves.

Lack of jobs. I'm not saying they are bums. All I'm saying is they find it extremely difficult to look and maintain jobs from where they are born, so that's why they come here in the Philippines.

Here, if you're mestizo or you look like a foreigner, a modelling job is easy to get. People, like some members of the Askals probably did not audition for their parts and were simply taken in because they are six footers and they have stronger builts than ordinary Pinoys. And seriously, that's about it.

Let me clarify---I am not generalizing. I am not referring to other Filipinos who have foreign ancestry--I am just referring to the Askals.

By the way, Clavio is no etholinguist or a Sociologist. He is a broadcaster. As a broadcaster, what he knows depends on the topic. When it comes to the broader interpretation of what this term means, Clavio is not the specialist. However, when it comes to what the people think things are, Clavio, in my book, is an expert.

For Clavio, being Pilipino and being kayumanggi are inseparable concepts, something like ice cream or puto't dinuguan. For an ordinary Pilipino, not all Filipinos are kayumanggi or not all kayumanggis are Pilipinos.

For example, Anne Curtis. Is Anne Curtis a kayumanggi? Nope, she is mestiza. Is Anne Curtis part of the kayumanggi as a race. Yes, she is because she embraces Pinoy culture. 

Is Angel Locsin, a kayumanggi or Diana Zubiri, a kayumanggi? Yes, they are because they are not only morenos but they belong to the Kayumanggi cultural realm.

Is Phil Younghusband, the alleged boyfriend of Angel Locsin, a Kayumanggi? Nope, he is a half-breed, therefore, if you ask around, a mestizo matter-of-factly. Is Phil a member of the Kayumanggi nation? Yes, he is because he elects to become one.

Are these people all Filipinos? Not exactly. Citizenship is a totally different case altogether. You can be natural born Filipino but if you elect to be, say Canadian, you can throw your Filipino citizenship away and become Canadian. 

I don't see why Fil-Ams or other Filipinos born of fathers not Filipinos or mothers not Kayumanggi would feel slighted by Clavio's remarks. For one, he is not even referring to all half-breeds playing in the national teams--he is just referring to the Askals.

And I do think that these Askals are just using Clavio to divert the attention of the people. The fact is, they offended a lady official of the gaming world. Two, their offense is extraordinary because they not only dished out sexist remarks--they also showed their real color--they look lowly of the Filipina.

If these Askals really love their motherland and they really respect Filipinas, they will not act and say these things. Hence, what Clavio told me was true--they are just faking it. 


40 comments:

  1. Di ko makuha point hehe

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  2. Questioning ang pagka Filipino ng Azkals sa post na to tapos ginoglorify si Jessica Sanchez sa kasunod na post? Contradicting?

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    1. @anonymous,

      hindi naman. that shows that I am only referring to the Askals, and not what others think that Clavio did was an affront to Pinoy half-breeds.

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    2. Tanong ko lang sayo, hinusgahan mo na sila kahit wala pang napapatunayan na meron ngang sexual harrasment? At nilahat mo na yung Azkals hindi lang yung dalawang nireklamo? Wow galing naman.

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  3. Wala nang biggest sexual harrasser kundi si arnold clavio. Taking advantage of a psychologically, emotionally vulnerable filipina in sarah balabagan...kung di ba naman, ini interview nia lang tas biglang binuntis nia. At take note, ayaw pa dna test. Ayaw umamin

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    1. @anonymous,

      this post is not about that. lumayo ka naman sa usapan, dear.

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    2. Whatever. Im just saying you know :p on topic pa rin yan cos ur talking abt sexual harrassment, d azkals arnold....ur a joke

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    3. @ anonymous, so are you saying that a man who once committed an alleged SH infraction has no right to comment on something like that? Well, correct in a way. Pero, the thing here, let's accept the fact that (1) These Askals should not be treated especially like they are now being given and (2) I think PFF should not protect the two Askals. They should open themselves up for investigation.

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  4. Sexual harrassment by law is when a person in authority wields his power over someone in lesser stature/position to get sexual favors etc. classic example is clavio on sarah b.

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    1. @anonymous, re-read your law dear. This interpretation, though correct, is not the prevailing view on SH anymore. Sige, if you think that THESE TWO ASKALS did not commit SH, i THINK THE MOST APPROPRIATE CASE TO BE FILED AGAINST THEM WOULD BE Sexual Perversion under a special law?

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    2. I am not sure about Moy's case but with Guirado's..hmmm sexual perversion by wearing underwear..in the men's locker room? Oh cmon.

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  5. WALANG WORK??? TALAGA?? MAY KANYA KANYANG MGA FC CLUBS NA may MALAKIHANG SAHOD, WALANG WORK? OFFICE WORKER, LAWYER, ENTREPRENEUR,DENTIST, ARMY, etc. SOS!!!

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    1. @anonymous,

      Kapatid, pakilista nga dito ilan sa mga Askals ang may trabaho o lawyer...or dentista...or army....nasan po.

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    2. Panalio ka. Misinformed ka nga talaga..misinformed na nagdudunung dunungan. Anong tawag mo sa ufl league hindi trabaho? Yun european FCs where some of d azkals ply their trade where they are paid in euros? Hindi trabaho yun? Kaya nga tinawag na pro players eh...obobs kang. Sina chieffy ian et al in active service sa military yan...at baka isampal nina aly sayo businesses nilaapahiya ka

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    3. Tanong mo kay mvp magkano pina pasqeldo nia sa younghusband brothers for playing for meralco sparks. Baka naman sabihin mo pang yun multi million contract nila eh hindi pa rin trabaho

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    4. It's not a work, it's only a job hence, they do not work.

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    5. @ anonymous. Ian and etal if they are in active service, are outside our discussion. Let's put it in context--you said a while ago that they are dentists, doctors, etal. Again, can you please tell my readers who are these doctors you claim from the Askal ranks?

      As for the PhilHUsbands, that's the point---tignan natin kung sa bansang pinanggalingan ng mga yan, makakakuha sila ng trabago, obabs ka.

      Yun nga ang point--karamihan o ilan sa mga Askals na yan, naririto lang sa Pinas dhil hindi makakkuha ng trabago elsewhere. That's an introvertible fact.

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    6. Haha hindi fact yan. Oo kung football mahihirapan silang makakuha ng spot sa ibang bansa pero kahit na, sigurado akong makakakuha sila ng spot kahit sa third tier league dun. Si Etheridge and Schrock, mas malaki pa kinikita sa highest paid PBA player natin dito.

      Tsk..tsk..really misinformed or just plain ignorant. Eto yung blogpost na para makisali lang sa issue without considering the facts.

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  6. Syensya na...obobs nagsulay

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  7. Oh yeah...pinoy supremacy!!! lol Mabuhay ang Kayumangi hehehe

    http://pinoysportsatire.blogspot.com/2012/03/arnold-clavio-vs-azkals.html

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  8. sa mga huling paragraph hlatang one-sided ang author. hinatulan na ung dala
    wang players kahit hindi pa napapatunayang guilty.

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    1. @anonymous,

      Sexual harassment, according to law, is an overt act. Hindi kailangang dumaan sa matagalang paglilitis ito dhil sa testimonya pa lamang ng biktima, halatado nang mayroong naganap na panghahalay seksuwal.

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    2. Obobs ka talaga. D fact lang na pinag pipilitan mong sexual harrassment eh pinapakita mo na gano lang kaliit utak mo. Pansinin mo kung SH pa rin ginagamit na term ni cristy j. At baka nahaasam na. Baka naman disrespect or misconduct, malayo ang pagkakaiba nun sa SH. If u go by definition, how could she be sexually harrrassed eh she was in position. If she felt slighted, dapat right then and there she reprimanded d players for their behavior. Kung totoo nga allegations nia ha. Dahil d case is still ongoing wag naman sana maprove na it was clear misinterpretation at baka mapahiya lamg sya. At ikaw na rin. Wait for the other side to be heard, pag uwi nila fr nepal may sagot va dyan

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    3. @ anonymous, I think mas obobs ka. Please re-read your law. The law on SH has been modified and construed. What they did was utter sexually-laden language against a female. It does not need that you are in a position of authority to comment sexual harassment.

      Like I said, don't defend such acts, since everyone knows that these acts are wrong. Better yet, the Philippine Football Federation must open itself to scrutiny and place these two Askals before the bar of justice.

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  9. ang hirap kasi instead na mabigyan ng katarungan ang isang bagay naghahanap pa ng kadamay, hindi pa tapos ang kaso dinadagdagan pa ng ibang issue. Bago tayo magalit sa comment lets all remember na having a dual citizenship is a privilege,now let me ask you, these athletes, are they getting paid gaya ng mga local Pinoy, are they being treated gaya ng mga nakatira sa Pinas.Now you tell me, sino bang dapat magalit at magreklamo. If you were offended by the so called recist kayumanggi remark, ask yourself am I a typical and a local Filipino citizen? NO you're not because you know you're treated ESPESYAL. And if you are a dual citizen dont forget at one point you did gave up your Filipino rights.

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  10. @maria drenning,

    You are absolutely correct! Mind you, again, Clavio is not referring to all half-breeds, he is specifically referring to some Askals who are not Pinoys and are just faking it because they want to live here.

    The point really is this---we must not tolerate these kinds of people. These two ASKALS committed a grave infraction, why not punish them outright? That because they are playing in the national team exonerates them from these crimes? No.

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    1. They are, according to our constitution, are Filipino. Unless you or Clavio are higher than the constitution.

      Kahit sa mga nakatira dito, madaming nangyayaring ganyan..and I'm not saying Moy and Angel are guilty pero kadalasan the ones in the government pa. Anong point mo na gawing special case ito? Hatred for the so-called half breeds? LOL

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  11. the author of this blog is a classic example of an individual who have the choice to be informed but choose not to because of his bigotry and prejudice.

    1. kayumanggi refers to the whole Malay race, not to a certain culture. the Malay race came from one ancestry -- from homo erectus javanensis. the east asians (e.g. chinese, koreans, japanese) came from once ancestry - homo erectus pekinensis. that is why there is nothing called pure filipino even the taong tabon who are considered the first habitants of these islands; they came from java who crossed the seas to the philippine islands during the ice age. we are of mixed heritage. that is why your view of kayumanggi supremacy is misplaced.

    2. how can you be a filipino if you are not a citizen? we follow the jus sanguinis rule (right of blood). they are still filipinos whether they like it or not because it is in their blood. it is not a matter of choice. they cannot erase the fact of being a filipino by doing things more canadian (according to your example).

    3. they do not get in the national team only because they are foreigners or they possess the built of a foreigner. it will still depend on their skills and their attitude as a football player. also, not because they got in, they will be there forever. every spot in the team is being contested. it means that if they want to retain in that spot they have to show they are improving because others can take it from them. classic example is leigh gunn, a former nt member before the popularity of the azkals, he was sent home in a training camp because of his attitude. jason de jong also almost got booted out of the team because of his attitude before he made amends when he apologized to the coaches. anton del rosario was not included in the line-up for the challenge cup coz he is being disciplined for partying too much. matthew hartmann was suspended indefinitely from playing both in the national team or in the local league for abandoning the team.

    4. there is no sexual harassment based on the narrated facts of cristy ramos. sexual harassment happens if a person in authority or exerts a certain influence on the victim, took advantage of such authority or influence to obtain sexual favor from the victim. yes it is an overt act because you cannot be punished for things that is still in your mind. even atty. gaby from unang hirit said that there is no sexual harassment. also, atty. kapunan when she was interviewed reiterated that there is no sexual harassment. for what its worth, their offense is unjust vexation.

    5. they did not join the national team just to get modelling jobs or to become "artista". they are losing more just by playing for our flag. they have jobs abroad as professional football players. they earn more than what they will get for endorsement contracts here. fyi, it is normal for football players to get modelling jobs or endorsement contracts. have you ever heard of david beckham or cristiano ronaldo?

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    1. 6. as much as everybody have the right for freedom of expression, the two alleged offenders has the right to due process and presumption of innocence. it does not mean because you have the freedom of expression, it is ok to use this right to curtail or step on the rights of others. these are still allegations. the players are still in nepal where their side is not being fully heard. the freedom of expression is not an absolute right.

      7. you are just applying your own definition of being filipino to the azkals and not to others like jessica sanchez. that is a violation of the equal protection clause. it must apply it equally to all members of the same class. they are of the same class i.e. one parent is filipino but born or raised abroad.

      8. not because we are criticizing arnold clavio for his bigotry we are condoning disrespect against women. if he wants to condemn the act, why does he have to resort in racist diatribe to prove his point? can he not do it without pointing out the players lineage? im a woman and i got disrespected a lot of times and not one of them are fil-foreigners. they are all pure breed pinoys.

      9. you dont need to be a fil-foreigner to be jerk, asshole or a dickhead. a week ago, a 7 year old girl was killed and raped. the 2 suspects were pure breed filipinos as per your definition.

      10. yes, it is not in our culture to disrespect women and so are other country. which country will say that it is in their culture to disrespect women? use some common sense.

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    2. Let me answer this point by point however starting with the last point.

      First of all, let me be very clear--I am not writing disparaging remarks against the Askals and I am not generalizing here. I am just presenting the points raised by Clavio and infused it with analysis. NOw, whether or not the analysis is valid remains in discussion. That is why this is called BLOGGING because it's supposed to elicit reactions.

      5. " they did not join the national team just to get modelling jobs..' This is partially true for some but not all Askals. Did I say that most or all of the Askals' motivation to come here was to get jobs? No. I said "some" not "all". I recognize that footballers had to earn extra income from modelling and I agree, there is nothing absolutely wrong about it.

      4. Partially true. However, there are recent Supreme Court decisions which I will cite in another blog entry which invalidates your SH argument. NOw, whether there is a case or not, the point of the entire article is simple: those two Askals should still be punished because if they claim to really be Filipinos, they will respect women because it is ingrained upon our culture that men respect women.

      3. That is good.If indeed team discipline is being implemented, then, I commend the Askals. However, let me be very frank--they should have applied this to the two Askals mentioned in the complaint by Ms. Ramos. These Askals should be reprimanded for what they did--even if it is not an SH case.

      2. The term Filipino is a citizenship. To some, it is a state of mind. To most, it is interpreted as a race. The term refers to citizenship. You may lose your citizenship, you may elect to change it, that is allowed by law. Now, Filipinos born here, obviously, does not lose their citizenship but their statuses. That is the general rule. For the Askals, it is different. They have the right or the option to choose. Now, again, I am not referring to all, I am referring to some of them. If they choose to be Filipinos, they have to embrace their being Pinoy in totality.

      1. For a more insightful understanding of where we really came from, email me and order my book free--its a history book. This will explain to you my concept of Kayumanggi in totality.

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  12. "If these Askals really love their motherland and they really respect Filipinas, they will not act and say these things. Hence, what Clavio told me was true--they are just faking it".

    i totally agree. even with a championship trophy in tow, there inst much to rejoice. in the eyes of the filipinos, we jubille. but in the eyes of the world, it's a just a payroll. no honor. the world knows that we came from asia, and many askals do not bear our asian roots. kayumanggi has a deeper sense, it embraces the filipino culture for respect- specailly the elderlies and the women. the askals do not.

    the askals play not for glory, but for money.
    a trophy without glory. a team without honor.
    askals= most fitting name for the team.

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    1. Haha money? Don't make me laugh. It's the last thing on their minds. Hahaha you're funny. =))

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    2. Really anonymous, money is the last thing on the minds of the Askals? I will believe you if they will stop offering themselves as commercial models.

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    3. "kayumanggi has a deeper sense, it embraces the filipino culture for respect- specailly the elderlies and the women. the askals do not."

      haha,really??!!! parang cnabi mo na din na kung foreigner ka, wala sa culture nyo na rumespeto ng babae/elderly. Whoa, na experienced ko ma sexually harassed dito sa Pilipinas. When i was abroad, I was surprised na may large number pa pala ng gentlemen, and they are foreigners.

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  13. clavio expert yan haha may anak yan kay sarah balabagan ofw rape victim. lol

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  14. this is one of the reasons why there’s a big difference between BLOGGING and JOURNALISM

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    1. @anonymous, true, because blogging aims to elicit reactions, journalism is simply narration of facts. Opinion writing, however, like blogging, is like this. The difference really is in blogging you get instantaneous reaction from your readers.

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  15. good read, sir.

    followed you, do follow me back, thanks :)

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  16. I guess Clavio was criticized for being a racist by using the term "nagkukunwari (pretending)". I believe some of the azkals are pure Filipino, and by stating "Hindi SILA..." he meant the whole team, that's why many reacted to his statement. But then again, Clavio may have not intended to be a "racist" in effect he is just stating a fact.

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Thank you very much for reading my blog. You inspired me. But if you intend to put your name "anonymous", better not comment at all. Thanks!