Institutional racism exists in Australia. Anyone who denies that must be living on another planet. But it still hurts when you see it directed towards you or your people.
Last year, a Caucasian woman (originally from the UK) Jill Meagher was raped and murdered. It was horrible and we saw CCTV footages and her photos. We also heard her promising life here in Australia. All of these lasted several weeks.
A week ago, a pregnant Asian woman (originally from the Philippines) Joan Ryther was bashed, raped and murdered. Her unborn child was also killed. Had I not visited the Facebook page of a Filipino-Australian news site last night, I would not have learned about it.
I watch morning and evening news. I also read news websites of ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Advertiser, The Age and SBS and it was only this morning that ABC decided to report about it when somebody already got arreested.
This disinterestedness for segments of the Australian society is not giving this country a good reputation. We are all precious so please do not make us feel otherwise.
We gay men did not sprout from the ground. Like all men and women, we came from this world and this world is neither gay-friendly nor women-friendly. We are not predisposed to be sensitive towards the being of women. We are predisposed to misogyny.
Like how many men (who claim to be straight) would say "I would rather , than to have sex with a man", we gay men would say the same thing when it comes to describing the possibility of being intimate with a woman. We go to the extent of comparing the vagina to a different sorts of animals just to illustrate how disgusting we claim it is.
I think as an adult gay man (who has been out of the closet for decades) can be better than this. I can learn to talk about women without degrading them. I can rid myself of this predisposition to be misogynistic because this world is also predisposed to hate my being and I should know that it is not fair.
It is going to be Australia Day on Thursday and for some aboriginals it is not really a day to celebrate. For some non-white Australians, it is a day one has to be careful or else they will at least get some verbal abuse from white Australians.
One of the leading neurosurgeons in the world Dr. Charles Theo was given a chance to deliver an Australia Day speech. He mentioned that Australia should not deny that racism still exists here. Denying its existence is very harmful and will just make matters worse.
He also asked the politicians to treat refugees and asylum seekers better. But then so many prominent people have already done this and yet the discussion has not matured.
However, people are attacking him online and denying that Australia has no problem with racism. Some people also say that he is just whining for the sake of whining.
I am very happy that Dr. Theo was given a chance to speak about this burning issue. I just hope that the government listened.
I know hate is a strong word but it is what I feel right now. An Australian Member of Parliament Teresa Gambaro said last week that we migrants should use deodorants and know how to behave in public. I was hurt because her statement unfairly picks on a group of people that do not have much political power in the country.
I know a lot of migrants here who work hard to get a job and work extra harder to keep it amidst prevalent racism in many industries here. I am grateful that there are laws protecting us but the attitudes of the people (especially white Australians) have not changed very much.
I was so hurt by her statements last week that I wrote the Human Rights Commission and a representative called me within 24 hours. Although the guy was very kind and accommodating, there is no provision in the Anti-Discrimination Act that protects migrants. Prejudice has to be based on race, religion, gender, and other things but not migration status.
I let it slide but then I was woken up by another statement from her saying that learning English prevents us migrants from racism. This implies that it is our fault that we get attacked because of our race. This implies that racism is the problem of the victim.
I feel so hurt right now that I really hope she gets all the misfortunes in this life and after it.
When I was a teenager in the Philippines, I looked at
the globe and found Australia. I wondered how can this country be so far from
Europe and be locked by the South Pole and Asian countries but it remained very
white.
Now I know the answer.
In 2010, the Australian government channel produced
"Immigration Nation", a documentary on the White Australia Policy. It showed its
origins, its numerous victims and its downfall. The series is divided into three
60-minute episodes that contain TV broadcasts, posters, photographs, home videos
and interviews of historians and various migrants. All of which are narrated
chronologically.
What struck me the most is the constant dread that
Australia had against Asians. The government separated families and deported
non-white children to countries they are not familiar with. But in less than a
lifetime, the country transformed from a very inclusive and racially homogenous
society to a culturally and racially diverse one.
The Immigration Nation is something that all Australians
should watch as it explains some of the ideologies that still exist in present
Australian politics. It is also significant educational material for countries
that are also made up of immigrants from around the world.
Go to the SBS website to watch all the episodes. It is also available on Youtube by searching "SBS Immigration Nation". Or you can just watch the hilarious TV ad here.
I came home with this piece of news. I am really glad that our current South Australian premier is supporting same-sex marriage. I just hope our relationship will be seen as legitimate and equal in a year's time.
Boat people--that is like a bad word in Australian Labor and Liberal politics. It is like these politicians do not even want to touch them. It is like if they could handle their application with a thousand-kilometer pole, they would.
I thought signing the Refugee Convention means welcoming asylum seekers and shielding them from persecution and yet here we are--trying to ship them to a place as far away from the continent as our conscience (or the lack of) will allow us.
This level of debate makes us forget how the white settlers came to this country. The Aboriginals did not ship them to an island that geographically looks like it is already part of Malaysia or Indonesia. The Aboriginals did not even ask for identity papers.
And yet here we are--looking for a place to dump people who are looking for protection.
Back when I was still living in the Philippines, border protection meant warding off foreign fisher folk who are robbing us of corals, fish and other forms of marine life. I guess nowadays that definition has changed.
I know all Australians know this--asylum seekers are not here to invade us. They are not here to destroy this beautiful country. They are here because they want to live a full life and being in a detention centre will not offer this.
Living in Australia has been a struggle for me, especially when understanding politics. I have never been a part of a cultural minority. In Thailand, I did not really consider myself as a resident so I did not really care much about politics there. In the Philippines, I had the power as I am Malay, Catholic, middle class and born in Manila. In Australia, I am a brown man living in a sea of dominantly white people.
The refugee issue is a learning curve for me as my only knowledge of refugees were the boat people who came from Vietnam and settled in Palawan. And suddenly in Australia, I am surrounded by people who bear psychological and physical scars. I just do not see them but I work with them so I had to suddenly research about them.
It is not easy to get real information on refugee issues as both the ruling party and the opposition party in Australia are far from hesitant in using racist and fallacious remarks just to please what they think the whims are of the voters. They have coined words like "queue jumpers" to paint asylum seekers as criminals. They use slogans like "stop the boats" as if illegal immigrants arrive that way (they usually arrive by plane carrying UK passports).
Unfortunately, these two major parties are successful in disseminating false information as well as hatred towards refugees and asylum seekers. So many words have been tossed back and forth but none of which come from the refugees themselves. But then how can this government host a venue for these people when they are only a minority--their numbers are so small that they will not have an effect on elections.
Until SBS produced a show that Australians should be proud of. "Go Back to Where You Came From" selected six white Aussies who have very strong views on the refugee debate. Though the refugee stories were told from the point of view of non-refugees, some screen time was given to asylum seekers and refugees themselves. At last, mass media gave them a chance to tell their stories using their words.
The stories presented are horrible and dehumanizing. Their experiences may have broken their bodies but not their will to gain freedom and contribute to this world. Finally, we get to see that they are people, too, and not just elements that will make politicians get their seats in the parliament.
Many people are denying the veracity of these stories though and that is to be expected because their beliefs are being challenged. It is not easy to admit that one is wrong. They will eventually change and learn to empathize and learn how to become human.
This is only the start. More refugee stories will come...
I spent my teen years adoring RuPaul's videos. At such a young age, I started thinking that drag queens are fun.
When I heard that she was launching a reality show of drag queens, I was hesitant to watch it--how can you have fun with a dozen of drag queens. I thought of endless lip-singing and catfighting.
But I was wrong--being in drag is an art. It is even more varied than the colours of the rainbow and I am sure it is more difficult to master than a Picasso or a Michelangelo.
The third season of RuPaul's drag race presents US drag queens that encompass a huge spectrum of not only the gay population but ethnic and cultural backgrounds. There were Caucasians, Puerto Ricans, South East Asians, rich, poor, famous, and infamous.
All the Caucasian queens were booted off in the middle of the competition and the arena was prepared for the battle of an African American, two South East Asians and three Puerto Ricans. For half of the season, the bi-lingual multi-racial queen is the norm.
Raja (Indonesian-Dutch) presented a fashionable and edgy side of drag while Manila Luzon (Filipino-American) presented a quirky Imelda side. I was really hoping for Manila to win but Raja really deserves the crown because she is (despite her age) fresh and FIERCE!!!
We should start teaching our kids the gay lifestyle while they are young. We should let them cross dress for school plays and even teach them how to lip synch to Abba songs. Though it should not be done everyday, we should also teach them the difference between night makeup and day makeup.
And when they get older and have the ability to remember dates, then we should teach them about the Stonewall riots, the Sydney Mardi Gras and even the Philippines' Super Si Reyna. And with supervision, we can let them watch the life of Brandon Teena.
They do not have to be gay to enjoy gay culture as gay men do not have to try vaginas to enjoy straight culture. They simply have to be aware of the gay people that paved (and paving) the way towards a more tolerable society.
And I am sure teaching them while they are young will prevent gay bullying and gender-related suicides. Plus we will have more gay men and women who are realizing their full potentials rather than worrying about getting hurt by their classmates.
Yesterday, Australians were swamped with videos of a year 10 student being bullied and punched by his attacker. And there are tons of videos out there of a similar nature but this one stands out because the victim fights back--he wrestles his attacker to the ground and ending the ordeal...for now.
The victim has allegedly been bullied for years and the school system has not done enough to stop it. Perhaps, the poor kid has had enough and decided to protect himself when the school system should have prevented it from happening.
As a consequence, the bully was suspended for four days and so was the victim. The abused kid has been tormented already and I do not understand why the system has not only failed him but is also causing more damage.
I know the government does not give much power and tools to the school and the teachers in stopping bullying. It is a fact of life here for Australian kids and unfortunately, we cannot see an end in sight.
All my friends know that I was bullied as a kid, too. It was not really physical (physical bullying is not really common in the Philippines) but psychological. I knew I had the strength to fight back and I wish I had the balls to do it.
I have been to Intramuros countless of times. Steven has been there last year. Why did I go there again during my latest trip to Manila?
Carlos Celdran.
I have heard about Carlos long before emigrated from the Philippines in 2006 but my admiration blossomed when he made a very unique protest last year. He did not like the Catholic Church's stance on the Reproductive Health bill which will help our fellow Filipinos to better manage the size of their families.
I was beyond ecstatic when I saw him. I wanted to tell him that I believe that he will be an important part of history. I wanted to thank him for waking us Filipinos from apathy towards the church's abuse of its power and influence.
I wanted to scream and hug him but I didn't. I only settled for a photo with him.
I love going to museums. It is like History 101 for any country in the world and that is why I went to a lot during our latest visit to the Philippines. We visited University of the Philippines' Vargas Museum, Makati's Ayala Museum and Manila's Pambansang Museo and the Museum of the Filipino People.
The National Museum was shameful and embarrassing. Although it houses some of the most expensive painting in the country, these art pieces are so dirty that one could only guess the real colour sand details of the art pieces. Many of the animal skeletons are either missing or broken and all are hidden in the dark. Most of the museum is actually closed and blocked from public viewing as these parts are being rebuilt. Nevertheless, it is depressing that the place that should contain the things that define us as a country is in shambles.
The Museum of the Filipino People stands right beside the National Museum and it charges everyone a 100 peso fee upon entering. I am not really sure why but half of their collection focus on shipwrecks and relics found in them. They definitely do not reflect the Filipino people. Half of their collection is devoted to indigenous tools but many of the explanations are missing and/or kept in the dark where nobody can read them.
The Vargas Museum is a must for students learning how to paint as it is also a home to some priceless paintings. It also has some very recent paintings that have become very popular (i.e. Joy Mallari's "Doll Eyes") and works of aspiring artists. Unfortunately, the priceless paintings can only be viewed at certain days and at certain hours of those days. And we missed those few hours.
The Ayala Museum is a private museum owned by the Ayala Corporation (who else?). Its presentation of the Philippine democratic history history in diorama is even better than what I have seen in Australia. But the most memorable part of their collection are the gold pieces. I did not know that we produced so much jewelry and goldenware before the Spaniards came. Many of these pieces even date as far as the 10th century. That collection really made me proud that we had such a rich life before the white people came. The only downside to this museum is there is a different fee for foreigners--a 100% difference.
So I thought that I was going to introduce Steven to Philippine history and culture but instead, I was able to show him a representation of the Philippines' present state. As the government-owned museums are in shambles and in the dark and so is our own government. As we see glimpses of our beauty once in a while, we also see glimpses of our ugliness half of the time. Only the big private corporations give us light but then they also reflect the great disparity between the rich and the poor.
I am fortunate enough to be able to interact with different kinds of migrants here in Australia including refugees. They openly share with me their experiences and thoughts of their new lives in this country.
One time, I told one Sudanese that I do not like celebrating my birthday. She said that I should be happy and I should spend it with my same-sex partner. Then I found out that many refugees do not even know when they were born. The immigration department assign them their birthdates.
I have encountered a lot of Australian-born kids here and they are mostly concerned about getting a car or the latest phone model. On the other hand, the young Sri Lankans I know are very very excited going to school and learning more about this adoptive country. They are very hungry for stimulation because they were practically born and were raised in refugee camps.
Many white Aussies believe that refugees are only taking the former's tax money through Centrelink payments. These pompous people have not even talked to one of these refugees. They do not know how hard refugees work on to get their skills recognised and how racist Australian employers are. Refugees work so hard for their education and when they reach that goal, it is much much harder for them to get employment than their white counterparts.
Very recently, dozens of asylum seekers (including babies and women) perished as their boat smashed against jagged rocks at Christmas Island. Online, many Australians say that these people deserve to die for queue jumping---death for the desire to have a life with dignity.
Afghans tell me there are no queues to jump but there are literally people to run from. Yes, they run to cross borders and not many make it. Only the young make it and that is why most Afghans in Australia are teenagers without their siblings and parents.
Many Aussies do not know that refugees spend not only a few years in refugee camps but decades. Some of them even die in refugee camps where conditions are far from humane. It takes the United Nations years to declare them as genuine refugees and it takes Australia years to accept them.
There are no queues to jump but their own lives to save.
Yesterday, Carlos Celdran (a popular tour guide in the Philippines) was arrested in a church. He shouted at the priest to stop meddling in politics while he held a placard with "Damaso" written on it.
Padre Damaso is a character in a Filipino novel and he is known for being a deceitful man of Church. He has always been a symbol of the broken religious organization.
Probably, Carlos did this stunt to support the Philippine president's stance on artificial contraceptives. President Noynoy has made it public that condoms, IUDs, pills and injectable contraceptives will be available to the poor Filipinos. As a result, the Catholic Church is threatening to excommunicate him.
But do we the Filipinos care that our president or us will be excommunicated?
NO!
This is the beginning of our realization that the church is not infallible and that it exists because of sex and greed. We are realizing that they are at fault that we are poor right now. We are realizing that our beloved country cannot support our humongous population.
There will be more protests like David's. There will be one more Filipino with one more placard. There will be one less contribution during mass.
I have come across a few teachers who think out of box and change the world. These are the ones who try to change how we think and how we should approach education. These are people who aspire for equality and see the world in the point of view of a non-white male.
On the other hand, there are some teachers who do not really yearn to change the world but have the world look in a mirror. There is one teacher who gives white people a chance to have a glimpse of how it feels to be non-white. And that is Jane Elliott.
Jane Elliott is a retired American school teacher who has produced several videos of people participating in an experiment that simulates racial discrimination. Some of these experiments last for two days. Some only for a day but these have created profound reactions from the participants and other researchers.
I hope I can participate in this project someday. Or better yet, create a project that is uniquely Australian.
There are a few of these experiments that are accessible via Youtube. I hope you enjoy this sample.
A few days ago, there was a huge hostage crisis in the Philippines. As a result, 8 foreign nationals are dead and it is still unclear whether they were killed by friendly fire or by the hostage-taker himself. One thing is clear though--the Philippine police force is ill-equipped (tool-wise and tactic-wise) in handling such a crisis.
I am not surprised though that this has happened. People are killed and seriously injured left and right. One of my relatives is a victim of violence as well and after so many years, the criminal is still at large.
If these tourists were Filipino nationals, it wouldn't have received so much attention and coverage because we know it is a reality in the Philippines. Some people hire hitmen. Some people kill with their own hands. People get killed.
For several months now, the Philippines has been suffering from long power outages and water service disruptions. The government says it is because the country has not been receiving enough rain. Hence, the rivers are way lower than what they should be. They also reckon that a few typhoons will solve the problem.
As a result, businesses have to decrease their operating hours, residents have to endure hot days without air conditioning or electric fans, people have to travel a long way to get water for their families and public toilets remain filthy and stinky.
It is very convenient to blame Mother Nature and I think there are several reasons for these crises. Ridiculous as it may sound I think overpopulation is one of the culprits. With a population of 20 million, the Greater Manila Area is busting its seams. The age-old infrastructure cannot sustain the number of people anymore.
Stop reproducing, my fellow Pinoys! Keep your dicks in your pants and if you cannot do it, please slap your local priests and put on a condom!
I usually do not write one diatribe after another but a good friend Antony suggested that I explain the game "Spot the Aussie". I first heard of this game from a young Caucasian Australian who is very close to me. At first, I thought it was a joke but he assured me that this game exists.
I have also heard this game mentioned in some Facebook accounts mentioned on the Anti-Bogan website. In addition, one Urban Dictionary user described "spot the Aussie" as
a hypothetical game played by White Australians. This comment is used within the white australians [sic] themselves, where they are at a function or location where there is a lack of white australians [sic]. i.e. they think there is [sic] far too many asian [sic], arabs [sic] or africans [sic] etc at the function, even though they are in australia [sic].
Try searching this game on Facebook and you will encounter tons of groups promoting this game. It seems there is a group of this nature in several suburbs or cities. Here are a few examples:
It is a hateful game and I just hope Australians realize that Australians come in different skin colors, sizes, shapes, sexual orientations, clothes (I love Xhosa costumes!), and religions (that includes Islam) and political inclinations. It is an extremely long road ahead but I am sure we are going to get there.
