Discrimination: A Fairy Tale (P.2)

Facts: (based on my observation)

1. People would shudder when they hear the word “Mindanao”.

2. People would back off at once when they know you're from Mindanao. (and this is a good thing, in some cases.)

3. When people know you’re from Mindanao, the bold ones would always ask if you’re Muslim.

4. If you say you are, they’d think you’re dirty, backward and barbaric.

5. If you say you’re not, they’d think you’re not really from Mindanao.

6. When people know you’re from Mindanao, the bolder ones would always ask if you’re an Abu Sayaf.

7. If you say you are, they’d think you will kidnap them for ransom.

8. If you say you’re not, they’d think of you as a bogus Mindanaoan.

9. When people know you’re from Mindanao, they’d always inquire if “nagpuputukan ba dun?”

10. If you say Oo, they’d go, “Ows? Talaga? Di nga…"

11. If you say Hindi, they'd go, "Eh sabi sa news palaging blahblahblah..."

12. When people know you’re from Mindanao, they’d ask if “nagpapatayan ba mga tao dun?”

13. If you say Oo, they’d go, “Kaya pala nandito ka sa Manila…”

14. If you say Hindi, they’d go, “Hindi mo alam!? Oo, maraming patayan dun. Alam mo ba blah blah blah…"

15. When you say that Mindanao is in fact a very nice, beautiful, peaceful place, they'd just roll their eyes on you and sarcastically say "yeah right"; worse, they'd brand you as 'sinungaling' and stone you to death. (I just made up the last phrase.)


To set the records straight:

1. I’m from Mindanao (Bisayang taga-Mindanao, loud and proud!), and I’m not a Muslim.

2. I’ve lived almost all my life in Mindanao, and (emphasis here) spent 2 years in Marawi City (The Islamic City), a predominantly Muslim area. I didn’t get injured whatsoever, nor did I get killed (which makes no sense, I know).

3. Muslims are not Abu Sayaf. The latter is a terrorist group, while the former are the followers of Islam. Like Christians, followers of Christ.

4. Islam is a religion, which literally means “Peace (Salam).” Muslims are the followers of Islam, and cannot be labeled as one unless they (rigidly) adhere to the teachings of Islam.

5. This I have to point out: We always hear news (supposing that you read and watch the news) about “Muslim pinatay ang kapitbahay” or “Muslim nagnakaw.” But we’ve never heard of “Kristyano ni-rape ang sariling anak” or “Katoliko binugbog ang asawa” or “Mormon nasangkot sa multi-level networking scam” or “Pulis na INC member natutulog sa trabaho.” Nothing of those sort, wala, di ba? So why ine-emphasize ang pagiging Muslim nila?

6. Like what I’ve said, Abu Sayaf is a terrorist group; in fact some Muslim folks disown them.

7. We all have our individual differences. Never take it against another person if he has a different culture, belief or religion. Just like Christianity, they also have their share of the “odd-ones”. Lahat naman yata meron.

8. Kindly examine the newspapers, and try to find out the ratio of Muslims and Christians na gumagawa ng krimen araw-araw, and let’s see who’s more “barbaric” (if that’s an apt term to use.)

9. Wag tayo masyadong magmalinis. Kristyano ka nga, ipokrito(a) naman.

10. If you categorize Muslims as lesser people, then you my friend are lesser-er. You’re definitely misguided, not to mention narrow.