Lucy Liu and a fundamental law of social media motion

It looks like the balat-sibuyas Pinoys have found a reason to play the “victim” and “target of racist remarks” again. This time, the target of their ire is Lucy Liu. People will remember Ms. Liu from movies such Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill, and Kung Fu Panda, just to name a few.

The quip that has got Pinoys indignant all over the place can be seen at the start of her interview with David Letterman found at this link

Letterman was basically asking her about her fitness regime. Here’s the part of the interview which I believe was easily taken out of context:

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT SOCIAL COMMENTARY!
Subscribe to our Substack community GRP Insider to receive by email our in-depth free weekly newsletter. Opt into a paid subscription and you'll get premium insider briefs and insights from us.
Subscribe to our Substack newsletter, GRP Insider!
Learn more

Letterman: When you run, do you run on a machine, or do you run outside?
Liu: I run on a machine. It’s easier for me. Also if I get really dark, I’ll start to look a little Filipino, it wouldn’t match. If I start getting darker, you know what I mean? I can get really dark if I’m in the sun too much.

To interpret her statement, all she said was that she could resemble a Filipino if her skin tone got darker. After all, by default, Chinese are fair-skinned. Hence, we get the questions that the emo balat-sibuyas Pinoys failed to ask themselves once again before reacting online: Where in what she said was it racist/insulting? Where exactly did she say that darker skin is inferior?

Nowhere.  The Filipinos just simply overreacted because of their hypersensitivity once again. Only Pinoys think dark skin means inferior; so predictable.

This isn’t the first time that Pinoys have reacted like this to what celebrities say. Teri Hatcher, Alec Baldwin, and Claire Danes all came before this, and Lucy Liu certainly won’t be the last one that they’ll overreact to.

The Pinoy reaction to statements such as this one, betray a rather ridiculous and condemnable character trait: they are riddled with tremendous insecurity, lack of comfort in one’s own skin (so to speak), and a massive inferiority complex.

The sad part is, Pinoys haven’t exactly been doing anything to overcome their insecurities, either. Ad campaigns like that of Bayo and Belo men did nothing but aggravate the problem and scream political incorrectness all over the place.

I’ve seen a few comments in discussion groups by level-headed people. They are puzzled, as I am, as to why Pinoys make such a big deal of what celebrities say about them. There are more important issues that warrant more attention, such as the mess that their social, political and economic landscapes are currently in. Of course I agree that there are more important things to be concerned about. However, the insecurity that Pinoys exhibited here, and which they will continue to exhibit in the future, is at the heart of the Pinoy condition. If only Pinoys weren’t more concerned with form than with substance, then we would not be so affected and put connotations of racism or supremacy where there are none.

Pinoys, are inherently racist too. They consider fair or white skin superior to brown skin. They routinely throw derogatory remarks at other people such as “chekwa”, “bumbay”, “kano”, and “egoy”, just to name a few. Once again, the emphasis is on form, over substance. Substance transcends skin color; Pinoys apparently, do not. This time, though, can we attribute this to their inherent insecurity as well? Perhaps, but there is more to Pinoy racism than meets the eye. That would be a subject for another write-up. One thing is for sure, though: Pinoy society does not allow the kayumanggi to be comfortable in their own skins.

It looks like Pinoys are proving the following statement true. I label it “A fundamental law of social media motion”.

In the end, Ms. Liu apologized. Why she should apologize for a misunderstanding that is the Pinoys’ own fault is something I will never understand.

95 Replies to “Lucy Liu and a fundamental law of social media motion”

  1. Yup, had also the same discussion with my thinking buds in the office here. There are more things to be concerned about than this insignificant and trivial quip by LL. We don’t see anything about the statement.

    Fellow pinoys, let this slide and forget about it. Move on!

  2. I don’t see anything wrong with what she said. I find it ridiculous that people find time to prioritize this over other problems we have in our country. I also find it funny that most filipinos easily misunderstand the context of what other people is trying to say. Shouldn’t they be happy that Lucy accepts the fact that she looks like a filipinos if not her complexion.

    1. Exactly, she’s actually saying that she looks like a Filipino if she gets a little darker, and that her Chinese heritage would start to “not match” with her appearance if that were to happen, which obviously would make life complicated for her. That’s all she meant.

    2. @Darktemplar

      You mean more outrage over this ( actress statement on the degree of a tan while on a comedy talk show) than a president :
      1) paying the bail of someone charged of a crime
      2) declaring that person’s innocence regardless of a pending investigation

      Basta Pinoy Da Best!!!!

      They sure have their priorities straight.

    3. Darktemplar,

      I guess Filipinos always want “da best” and “Filipinos” always mentioned together. But it seems that they are not comfortable in their own skin, which is why whenever Pinoys are mentioned, they imagine a slight even where there is none.

  3. Like I’ve always wanted to ask Filipinos whenever such a “racist” remark was made: “Do Russians get offended whenever they’re called ‘communists’? How about Germans whenever they’re called ‘Nazis’?”

      1. Dan Teo, always expect to get out of something what you put into it unless you have an intense feeling of entitlement. If your logic is to not care about Germans and Russians then don’t be a cry baby if others don’t care about whatever nationality you are. Concept called empathy.

      1. Hahahahah thats about as biased as it gets right there. Here’s a news flash for you……. The Germans and Russians don’t care about you either, and as you know Letterman doesn’t either ….. It’s Lettermans job to get under peoples skins, especially when they are onion skinned.

  4. Connecting the dots require some intelligence. Clearly, David Letterman has got some serious issues with Filipinos. Whatever it is that makes him to deliberately use his guests to deliver those “Filipino punchlines” and pretend innocence to what his guest was talking about needs some clarification. I reviewed the conversation and did not find it necessary why the Filipino with the “olive skin” racial slur be injected in the conversation. Lucy Liu could have simply said, “I feel comfortable with my complexion…period. But she repeated her statement twice saying “you know what I mean” and ended with “it doesn’t fit me” remark. What exactly did she mean by “it doesn’t fit me”?

    In Israel, they use the same “olive skin” slur in reference to immigrant Ethiopian jews and OFW’s. In Hongkong, the Chinese say “Bun Mui” in reference to dark skinned, short and ugly Filipino maids who they call stupid that Wikipedia deleted the description because it was so derogatory. Coded messages and statements can destroy people, nobody deserves it.

    This has been the fourth time since the Teri Hatcher incident. It was not a mistake and Letterman knows it. Now it’s time for the Filipino community leaders in New York to take this issue seriously with Letterman.

        1. I have no problem about it. Heck, mediocre people getting mad at small deals like this.

          Screw this ‘Pinoy Pride’ crap since it doesn’t really exist.

    1. You know, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to pay any attention to Letterman. In an industry where the measure of success is exposure and ratings, all your complaining tends to be counter-productive to your point of view.

    2. @LA702

      So Lucy Lui doesn’t like having darker skin. Why be offended? As if most Filipinos love their dark skin. Duh!

      Why do you think skin whitening products sell like hotcakes in the Philippines?

    3. Any two-bit Pinoy can come up with the conclusion that foreign celebrities have issues with Filipinos. So Filipinos are dark, compared to people of Chinese descent, who are more often not fair-skinned. So what? Why be offended when all Lucy Liu meant was that she could resemble a Filipino if she got a little darker? “It doesn’t fit me” – she thinks fair-skin is more fitting for someone of Chinese descent like her. I still fail to see whether she’s putting down Filipinos because they have darker skin.

      Filipinos are so paranoid, really; they think everyone is out to insult them. David Letterman doesn’t have a problem with Filipinos. Filipinos have a problem with Filipinos. If individual Filipinos don’t like how they look then it’s up to them what to do about it. But to make a big deal about what a celebrity says, and to take offense where there isn’t any? Please.

      Pinoys need to grow some self-esteem.

  5. @ Bill Steffen & Daido Katsumi

    Looking at your language, I can see two clueless rejects any parent would want to discard. Society has no use for you guys. LOL !!!

    1. So you agree with my post? Folks in my country are sick to death of people playing the race card. We have enough of it there and don’t need to hear it from Filipinos who think the whole world abuses them. Seems like Filipinos are more racist toward Filipinos than anyone else is. And BTW my post was meant to provoke you. It worked like I thought it would

      1. One more thing LA702. Don’t spout off about racism. I am in Manila and if you want examples of how I am racially profiled and discriminated against on a daily basis I can unload on you crybaby. Man up , suck it up and get about your business

      2. @ Bill Steffen

        Who cares about your country. Just like the Philippines, the Catholic church owns you. Do your homework my friend.

        1. You should do your homework first because you’re doing the Chewbacca defense.

          You’re going off-topic. 😛

        2. I have no idea what the church has to do with my post.. You did not say anything coherent. Please respond to my post as I posted it if you can.

    2. And what do we expect from a society where mediocrity and stupidity rules on every Filipino? And please, stop this victim mentality card. At least in the US, they never play victims and they always care for their own people.

      I think you’re butthurt since the article was right after all. This ‘balat-sibuyas’ shtick which you’re bringing it up proves that we are living in a dysfunctional society. At least I’m open-minded and not some moron who have angry mob mindset.

      I tell you the truth: “If someone tries to educate Filipinos, they take it as an insult to their intelligence.” Sad to say, the Philippines hate critical smart people.

      Point missed.

      1. Nah, he is just the eternally butthurt Abused Filipino. It’s not him, it’s the rest of the world thats screwed up

    1. No, David Letterman has a problem with stupidity.

      And even if he had a problem with Filipinos, he would most likely have a problem with what’s wrong with Filipinos–which, honestly, is what gets more media mileage these days.

  6. I don’t mind some people reacting against Ms. Liu’s statement. That’s their right and they are free to express their thinking about what was said about Filipinos. There are even groups, just like in the other countries, that automatically reacts against any derogatory remarks from anyone. That’s normal, I guess.

    I never react on statements that tend to put the Filipinos in a bad light not because I don’t care but because people sometimes commit gaffes, social blunders or their statements misinterpreted by the public.

    And most of the times, these faux pax are usually followed by apology or expression of regret from the offending party. Which incidentally, Ms. Liu did according to subsequent reports.

    As expected, FallenAngel, was not able to comprehend Ms. Liu’s gesture of civility and contrition.

    Which brings me to my pet peeve. I detest people, like FallenAngel, who capitalizes on the incident to undertake their hatchet job to criticize Filipinos in general. These opprobrious opportunists loves to make a mountain out of molehill just to give way to their pent-up hatred and hostile mentality. They fan the flame of enmity to usher their personal malevolence. Most of these are driven by political and personal reasons. Sometimes people who are mentally or intellectually challenged also engage in the same dirty game.

    It’s obvious, this article by FallenAngel, very clearly, is dirty for using the incident as a vehicle to denigrate and defame Filipinos. There is an obvious latent joy in writing those derogatory remarks against Pinoys which FallenAngel is so used to. It’s a high for him. It is his steroid for the day.

    And, unlike Ms. Liu’s sorry remarks, it is a lowdown dirty shame.

    1. You don’t like me, you don’t like FallenAngel, fine. Take a number and fall in line . Why are you here? I don’t like anything with Willie Revillame on it, so I do what comes naturally. I spend my time elsewhere. It does not even have to be TV . Time is precious and I have no idea why you spend your time here only to be miserable unless of course you like being miserable, I will bring out the Blondie lyrics again Jonas.

      1. Gogs how about I sing him “Before You Accuse Me” by Eric Clapton as well if he continues to be a whiny moron. He also does nothing but blame games especially accusing us as gma fanboys while he is an irresponsible buffoon.
        And admit it jon-ass. You’re just like those other moronic flips who can’t handle the truth about how dysfunctional you emos are. Jeez where did your life go so wrong and you act like a whiny little, “intelligent” kid?

        1. “That’s their right and they are free to express their thinking about what was said about Filipinos.”
          What right? The right to abuse their freedom of speech while they don’t look themselves in the mirror first? You maniacs need some soul searching. Read this whiny moron because you and those butthurt flips actually don’t know how to use it wisely:
          http://getrealphilippines.com/2011/04/do-filipinos-know-how-to-use-their-freedom-of-speech/
          “There are even groups, just like in the other countries, that automatically reacts against any derogatory remarks from anyone. That’s normal, I guess.”
          And your guess is so wrong. Tell that to Japan since they don’t feel being discriminated even if they were given “racist” remarks a lot of times.

        2. Of course there is one possibility I never thought of . Jonas has a crush on somebody here and acting all tough on the outside only to have a very vulnerable center .In the movie City Slickers the secret was finding that one thing. I think Jonas is infatuated.

        3. Domo & BenK, how I wish you read again my post and point out to me why I was wrong about it. Your impression of me is not important. Don’t waste your time gushing over me.

        4. And don’t waste your precious time here in GRP if you can’t even post something interesting to impress us readers jomn-ass because all you say here are nothing but whinefest like a 10 year old fatso attacking his critics who are slamming his video game “review” when in fact he’s totally biased at all. Kita mo na ngang maraming hindi sang-ayon sa iyo dito sa GRP pinipilit mo pa ring maging isang dakilang bano. Now do me a favor whiny moron: get lost.

      2. It’s you Gogs, it’s you… I just figured it out in Jon Ass last two posts. It’s you man. You are the lucky one that has stolen Jon ass heart. Sorry man, just saying. lol

        1. I’ve just noticed today Gogs. She’s also whining at Anti-Pinoy and like what she’s doing here in GRP, she’s also generalizing other countries and a point-misser as well. What is so dysfunctional about her is that she thinks that everything happening in this world is just natural like a lemming with no brains and no common sense who will just stupidly fall on a cliff. And here’s an example of what I’m saying with this pathetic post of her from this article (http://antipinoy.com/filipino-voters-are-utak-palamunin/):
          “as sure as the sun will rise (which i hope will no longer shine over failippines when this happens) kris aquino will win any position she wishes to run for.. 101%”
          jonas Reply:
          But what’s wrong with that? If she’s serious and determined and really out to serve the people, I don’t think we have to take that against her.

    2. You’re wrong because you presume that pointing out a social flaw — and in this case, a pretty consistent flaw — is itself wrong. I happen to agree fully with the thesis: Filipinos are (as a generalization, those who know I’m not talking about them don’t need me to point out the exceptions) whiny, racist little crybabies who can dish it out but can’t take it. Or ignore it, as I’ve had to do EVERY G.D. DAY of the eight years I’ve been hear, because it just doesn’t matter that much. I’m sure Bill S. can vouch for that routine. FallenAngel didn’t make an issue of someone’s comment, the low-minded masses who so lack self-possession that they feel it’s a valid judgment did. Again. You’re right; everyone has the right to allow themselves to be frustrated by irrelevancies, and voice that out if they want. And I have the right to assess that behavior, as well as the social double standard that accompanies it, as a deficit of evolution.

      As I do your need for attention spending all your time here, instead of at Propinoy or the Jolog Queen or Raissa Robles where I’m sure you’d be more comfortable, albeit less-noticed.

      1. You’re wrong because you presume that pointing out a social flaw — and in this case, a pretty consistent flaw — is itself wrong. I happen to agree fully with the thesis: Filipinos are (as a generalization, those who know I’m not talking about them don’t need me to point out the exceptions) whiny, racist little crybabies who can dish it out but can’t take it. Or ignore it, as I’ve had to do EVERY G.D. DAY of the eight years I’ve been hear, because it just doesn’t matter that much. I’m sure Bill S. can vouch for that routine. FallenAngel didn’t make an issue of someone’s comment, the low-minded masses who so lack self-possession that they feel it’s a valid judgment did. Again. You’re right; everyone has the right to allow themselves to be frustrated by irrelevancies, and voice that out if they want. And I have the right to assess that behavior, as well as the social double standard that accompanies it, as a deficit of evolution.

        Regardless, you, like FallenAngel, failed to prove that Filipinos have the monopoly of such reaction. You failed to show that we have the exclusive right to always feel offended against derogatory remarks. That’s the main point.

        As I do your need for attention spending all your time here, instead of at Propinoy or the Jolog Queen or Raissa Robles where I’m sure you’d be more comfortable, albeit less-noticed.

        I spend time here just like you, Gogs and others. So why take offense against me only? And the time that I spend here is my own time, not yours. Again, I find that off topic.

        If you are inviting me those sites you quoted I would be glad to join you there. Just tell me the issues you want me to engage in.

        1. I take offense to you because you’re an idiot and a time-waster who adds nothing to any conversation except volume. Engage in issues? That’s a sentence with at least two words you don’t understand.

    3. I guess expecting you to improve your comments after an absence here was too much to ask, jonas.

      You’re right in a way; people are free to express how they feel about what was said. Then it follows that I too, am free to assess their reactions.

      As usual, if you think this article was all about bashing Filipinos every chance I get then you’re missing the point. Pinoys taking offense at remarks when they’re not supposed to is a deplorable trait. Looking for hints of racism where there isn’t any is a deplorable trait.

      And how exactly didn’t I comprehend the apology? Her statement was taken out of context; it’s not her fault. I didn’t blow Lucy Liu’s comment out of proportion; Pinoys did. Pinoys should apologize for being whiny, insecure crybabies, if you ask me.

      That you have to speculate about my motivations for writing stuff like this, of course, means that you can’t really refute any of the stuff I just said here.

      You think criticizing Filipinos is a bad thing? Go wallow in your dakilang mangongontra mediocrity. And don’t come back.

      1. Maybe JonAss is missing the point since he thinks that pointing out flaws is another form of bashing. Actually, Mahathir DID criticizing his fellow Malays for their backward thinking. But he gave them a message of hope: If we can CHANGE, we can be successful.

        People like Gibo and Gordon have the capacity to do that, but unfortunately, most Filipinos are emo losers and anti-intellectual as well.

    4. TROLL.

      And counting one of Gogs’ posts, that was the accurate definition of the myth known as crab mentality. That mentality is for crab people: taste like crab yet walk like people. They have a hard shell but total softies on the inside, resorting to emotional outbusrts rather than logical thinking.

    5. I commend FallenAngel for speaking up. No matter how you try to hide it, over-sensitivity and over-reaction and not much else are becoming an odious trait that not only a growing number of foreigners, but a few enlightened Filipinos like FallenAngel as well, are noticing. Thank you FallenAngel for giving other Filipinos a chance to look at themselves by exposing their folly.

      The Jews overcome critcism and persecution by focusing on excellence. The Japanese and Germans recover from humiliation by excellence. The Chinese and Indians are excelling as well. But, Filipinos respond differently from these others—They simply whine, react, complain, protest—but where is the excellence that would prove the others wrong?—Nada!

      Why am I not surprised that Filipinos are now being looked upon as the “niggers” of Asia?

    1. Gogs, you asking why I’m here reminds me of a question posed to a person about mountains. It goes like this,

      Question: Why do you climb the mountain?

      Answer: Because it is there.

        1. Lol, you didn’t get it Gogs. I’m not comparing, I’m telling you the answer to your question.

  7. Domo, kung hindi ka sang-ayon sa akin, fine, no problem. Pero bakit galit ka? Bakit personal ang atake mo? Something’s wrong with you boy. Hindi ka ba natutuwa at marami kayo against one? O, naiinis kayo dahil lagi kayong butata? Ikaw, ni hindi mo man lang makuhang makipag-debate. Ang alam mo lang e mang-away gaya ni Trosp.

    Si BenK naman, I never saw the guy’s post that has some sense to it. Puro away din ang inaatupag instead of reason and logic.

    Nadagdag pa itong si Bill Steffen, whom I never have encounters with. Puro nonsense din ang sinasabi.

    Guys, my post are there, very clear and categorical. If you disagree with it, fine, let me have your point. Don’t waste your time on personal attack.

    Pinahihirapan n’yo lang si benignoy n’yan e. Tignan n’yo, pagod na ‘yung tao sa kaka-delete ng mga posts. Another thing, nakakahiya, kasi he is forced to do something against his principles. Imagine doing censorship in his own blog, short of imitating P-Noy? And he does that because of the poor intellectual quality of his own people.

    I’ve never seen benignoy this worse, this helpless and this rude.

    What’s happening right now is very apt to what benignoy has said in his mission statement. Here’s the mission of this blog

    We expect the low product of the majority to be subsidised by the exceptional output of the minority.

    benignoy said, he expect the low product of the majority (meaning YOU PEOPLE, the majority) to be subsidized by the EXCEPTIONAL output of the minority (meaning OTHERS like me). While I remain faithful to the role of the minority on that mission statement, benignoy seems to have lost his path due to the ‘low product’ of the majority of his people.

    Very, very sad, indeed.

    1. Actually it’s benign0’s right to remove anything here because it’s HIS blog and he could do anything he wants with it. It’s not necessarily a reflection of Aquino, who as a public figure SHOULD be openly criticized for attempting to silence dissent.

      1. I agree with you MidwayHaven but it cannot be denied that such act would have implication in benigno’s principle in terms of sense of right and wrong. You delete a post because you owned the blog is fine. You censor because you do not agree with what you are reading.

        But then, how will your stand be on censorship or libel issues, like the cybercrime law, when people know you are doing the opposite in YOUR OWN space? Right or wrong, people will think that there is a tinge of hypocrisy there.

        Remember, this blog has rules and regulation. If you can delete anything on a whim or just because you want to, you can censor anybody just because you want to, why then have rules and regulation in the first place?

        Just thinking.

        1. Because the Cybercrime law put forth as a government mandate needs work, while the rules and regulations for a privately-run blog don’t.

          Besides, what rules and regulations are you referring to in the first place, anyway?

        2. Because the Cybercrime law put forth as a government mandate needs work, while the rules and regulations for a privately-run blog don’t.
          Besides, what rules and regulations are you referring to in the first place, anyway?

          You either refusing or not getting it. Needing work has nothing to do with what we are talking about. We’re talking about principles or lack of it. You don’t criticize how the house is being badly run when you are doing the same badly thing in your own room. Got the idea?

          Like I said, I agree with you that owners can do whatever they want to do with what they owned. But you cannot stop people from thinking otherwise. You cannot stop the parallel thought of comparing what you practice from what you preach. Got the idea?

        3. @j-o’-na-s’

          You either refusing or not getting it. Needing work has nothing to do with what we are talking about. We’re talking about principles or lack of it. You don’t criticize how the house is being badly run when you are doing the same badly thing in your own room. Got the idea?

          It’s no different from private businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and such—Blog owners too may reserve their right to “refuse [you] service” or “evict you” from their “premises” if you simply solicit, or if your posts border on sloganeering (like some idiots we know), or trolling and so on (however way they try to disguised them, or you try to defend them), whilst such people are still free to bring their idiocies on some other blogs to “express” them there—very different in nature, principle, and practice from the Cybercrime law, by which you are required to resist and desist from expressing them anywhere and under pain of criminal punishment. So no need to confuse blog censorship, which here anyway almost practically functions as a sort of temporary reprimand (the village idiot is back), and that of the Cybercrime law. Only superficial people find it difficult to tell them apart and try to feign similarities between them.

    2. j-o’-na-s’ says: “You either refusing or not getting it…Get the idea?”

      *sigh*

      Actually I get the idea pretty clearly, and it seems that you might have not understood what I said. You can’t just imply that the owner of this blog’s a hypocrite just because he “doesn’t practice what he preaches.” That’s too much of an oversimplification of the situation.

      No one is stopping anyone here from thinking out loud what they want to say, and any dissenting opinion is ALWAYS welcome, moreso if it’s backed up by references. At the end of the day, however, if this blog’s owner decides that if for any reason a comment here doesn’t push forward a discussion the way he wants it, then he has the freedom as a private blog owner to delete that comment, other peoples’ further opinions bedamned.

      1. I understood what you said and I even said I agree with it. Isn’t that simple enough? With regard to the ‘hypocrite’ issue, you cannot stop anybody from thinking or assuming or implying it. You can only prevent people from expressing it by censoring or deleting them which would only fan the flame of suspicion that, indeed, hypocrisy is being committed. Now, would that be the truth of it all? Of course not but the impression, right or wrong, would be strengthened. We all know that censorship begets everything that is undesirable.

        Speaking of pushing forward, my post on this thread is not all about the above. So, to push forward the discussion, can we go back to the topic now?

        1. Way to go Jonas!!!!

          Actually, this is one of the few articles of Fallen Angel I seem to agree with. Most of his views on this makes sense to me (but I do not believe that there is no sensible contrary opinion).

          However, you engaging on a higher ground with them managing to throw only spit and dung earns you more respect point.

        2. Way To Go Jonas !!!!

          For the winning the GRP Award for the TOS Means Nothing Award going to the GRP fan who singlehandidly gets the most number of IDs of banned from violating the GRP TOS.

    3. Wahhhhhhh rub some dirt on it crybaby. Tell me why I should not be gutthurt like you are over remarks made about me.? Tell me why I should not cry like you do about being racially profiled, triple charged and having every Filipino in my neighborhood think I OWE them something just because I am white? C’mon crybaby tell me…. When the shoe is on the other foot the Pinoys think it’s ok To denigrate and and talk about folks. You are a moron and I think you might even live in my neighborhood. Are you one of the high and mighty that keeps coming to my door asking for food and money? Do I have a Bank of America sign hung on my door, just because I am white? Or maybe you are one of the trike drivers who triple charges me? Or are you one of the prostitutes that proposition me even as I walk down the street with my wife? You need to check yourself cause you are the biggest hypocrite on the blog. You earn respect it is not given, and when Pinoys try to make the world think that the whole world is picking on them, you get NO respect. None, zero, Nada. You are part of the Pinoy problem, not the solution.

  8. Thank you for the article. I agree with it. I have grown up with a hot of tan or I’m brown but can almost also be a bit fair and yet all my life in the philippines I’m constantly given comments/notice on “uy bakit ka uniting”, ‘uy pumuti ka’ and have as a child If not for the lack of that kind of vanity in or upbringing could have entirely made me think I am lacking just because I am not whitening my skin or are not ‘maputi’ enough. I hate the ‘singka-puti’ ads that keeps teaching pinoys that to be brown is to be inferior. I am a FILIPINa who have never used whitening products in mu whole life because I have been incredibly comfortable proud of whatever color I am and find beauty in whatever natural skin color anyone has. But i am so fed up of the whole nation acting and tellin me I am less white or more brown and so therefore whoever is saying it to me is more superior. They only ones Whitaker this attitude with me in the philippines are always the unfortunately ill-informed pinoys, the ones who don’t read, the ones who don’t travel, the ones who only hae time to whiten their skin. I like white, pale, brown and black they are all glorious to me but I love my skin. Heck it’s clean and clear! Bit I so agree that it’s pinoys themselves who are the worse racist. I agree ok everything about your article. To me it is not bashing-far from it–ayaw nga naririnig ng Pinoy yan but than you because all of it is true. That thinking damages our children. That when they come out naturally brown or more brown, immediately other whiter babies are better. From birth, nadidiscriminate agad. I hope it stops. Tell me, do you see dark skinned Pinay as a receptionist for posh banks and hotels? No. So true for so many other things. I am fed up looking at whitening products in shops in Philippines. Do they really think al of Filipinas want to w white! Excuse me. I find our natural color incredibly beautiful.

  9. Typing in iphone is awful. What i meant above was this: (wrong spelling edit) and additions.

    Thank you for the article. I agree with it. I have grown up with konting brown which I love, but can almost also pass fair when I spend too much time indoors, depending on whose judging not that I care. In UAE if I get too white they think I’m Chinese which I don’t like too (just like Lucy Liu baligtad naman). Yet all my life in the Philippines I’m constantly given comments/notice on “uy bakit ka umitim”, ‘uy pumuti ka’ and have as a child –If not for the lack of that kind of vanity in our upbringing -could have entirely made me believe I am inferior just because I am not as pale skin or are not ‘maputi’ enough. I dislike/hate the ‘singka-puti’ ads (the whitening ads) that subliminally keeps teaching Filipinos that to be Brown is to be inferior and that someone who is ‘whiter’ is better and superior. They even put a number on how white you are (cant remember which stupid brand it is–pero meron pang measure how stupid is that). Its the constant barrage of message in the cosmetic advertisements–anong ginagawa ng mga ad sensors ba they dont think this is wrong! IT basically says if your whiter you can get job easy as you get more attention your more superior. It doesnt help that it targets about 80percent of Filipinos (which is what Philippines is mostly made up of–those viewers who watches soap operas and willie and eat bulaga and votes for actors as senators). I am a FILIPINa who have never used whitening products in my whole life because I have been incredibly comfortable of the color of my skin. That was a feat. I like to swim, go outdoors and run whenever I feel like it -have a life and not have to worry about darkening my skin. People only worry about their skin darkening anyway because its a know fact that in establishments–getting a job or going to offices to do things, these same people who have the same mentality that white is better treats the much whiter/richer looking skin better than the farmer brown looking skin. Its very sad. Very backwards thinking. THey about dark skin because people will think then If they are darker then they must be poor so they try so hard to cover this. I find beauty in whatever natural skin color anyone has. But I am so fed up of that big percentage of Filipinos acting and tellin me I am less white or more brown and so therefore whoever is saying it to me is more superior or better looking even when they dont know what London is. The ones who take this attitude with me in the Philippines are always the unfortunately ill-informed Pinoys, the ones who don’t read, the ones who don’t travel very much, the ones who even abroad dont learn to other culture, the ones who only have time to whiten their skin. I feel sorry for them but also feel trapped in a country that would not try educate themselves. I like white, pale, brown and black they are all glorious to me but I love my skin too. Heck it’s clean and clear! But I so agree that it’s Pinoys themselves who are the worse racist. The worse in ripping off the foreign tourist when they board taxis. AKo nga Pinay niririp-off palagi. I agree with everything about your article. To me it is not bashing-far from it–ayaw nga naririnig ng Pinoy yan to be told their racist and onion skin, but thank you because all of it is true and its a breathe of fresh air your courage. The thinking that whiter skin is better damages our children. Children sa Pinas, when they come out naturally brown or more brown, immediately parents who have whiter babies immediately adapt the thinking that their baby is aleady superior ‘Ay mas maputi yung anak ni Liezl”. Spanish times pa yan eh. From birth, nadidiscriminate agad. I hope una itigil ang mga ganyan klasing patalastas ng maiba mentality natin. Tell me, do you see dark skinned Pinay as a receptionist for posh banks and hotels? For our ailines. No. Kaya nakakatuwa ang open mind ng America like Hawaii airlines sa ganyan. you will see whatever age and dark color skin they have they are working as airline stewardesses or any establishments like hotels. Its damaging sa atin these mentality in terms of jobs. So true for so many other things. I am fed up seeing whitening products in shops in Philippines these companies assuming they have all brainwashed Filipinas to whiten their skin. I find our natural color incredibly beautiful. I have a friend who is so dark brown. She says to her husband, ‘honey i will whiten my skin take meds and stuff. Husband says, honey you can tell them to f’off when they tell you you your dark as if its bad as no matter how dark brown they keep saying you are-you are wealthier than 50% of all the pinoys in the Philippines’. You have more money than them who whiten their skin to look rich!”. So she didnt and took on the new happy to be brown flag. Meron pong masamang kinalalabasan ang thinking na maputi ka mas superior ka’ sa ating mga anak. Kaya nga were full of onion skinned pinoys dahil nga pinalaki sa pagiisip na ‘magpaka puti ka para your better’ instead of ‘read books para your better’. Bata pa lang kasi sinasabihan na mga kalaro na mas maputi si ganito at maitim si ganoon.

    So thank you for your article. DO not be offended when some illiterate pinoy say you are dark. Tell them thank you it is my skin color and i am happy with it. If some establishments do not treat you right because you are dark and look poor, stand for yourself and do it right–but dont think whitening your skin will make you better and superior. Lastly, for those who blew LL out of proportion–sa Pinas muna kayo humarap at tingan ang sarili.

  10. i’m ethnic chinese, therefore a bit on the fair side. my wife has dark brown complexion. skin color has never been an issue. what i do mind is when people call our children “50% filipino”. excuse me? the last time i looked, there’s nothing in the philippine constitution that says being a filipino has the prescription of skin color or ethnicity. being filipino is having filipino citizenship, and doing one’s best to abide by all laws and national aspirations. for better or worse, we’re all 100% filipinos. so my message to those blinded by racism and insecurities… GROW UP! more power and mabuhay.

    1. I love your point. People trying to force their own definition of nationality on your family. People can’t help what they are born into or where there are born. But what they do control is their effect on their fellow human beings regardless of nationality. Pinoys put way too much stock into the former and could care less about the latter.

    2. It’s sad to hear Pinoy people emphasizing how different you are from them instead of focusing on how you can be similar to them.

      Being Filipino should not be confined to solely how you look.

  11. Wala naman masama kung maitim ka or what, sa panahon ngayon hindi na po masyadong pinag-uusapan ang kulay ng balat, ang usapin ngayon eh estado sa buhay, maputi ka nga at wala ka naman pera not to mention na nagugutuman ka eh what the sense di ba? tinatanong ko rin sa sarili ko kung bakit naging pamantayan ang maputi or mestisa para maging maganda sa pinas? even my daugther at her age which is 6 years old may sort of insecurities sya sa mga mapuputing classmates niya kahit na mas matalino at nagtatop siya sa class eh mas prepared niyang maging maputi, to help my daughther I always comfort her and tell her that she’s beautiful…just to boost herself. kasi baka magkaroon ng inferiority attitude ang unica hija ko, sinasabi na lang namin sa kanya ng kapag sinabihan siyang maitim which is hindi naman kaitiman in fact she’s tan, gumanti nalang siya and say ” maputi ka nga, patay gutom ka naman at low IQ ka pa” hahaha! if pinoy can only travel in different countries they will learned a lot from different cultures and tradition…unfortunately eh not all can afford it….

    1. …sinasabi na lang namin sa kanya ng kapag sinabihan siyang maitim which is hindi naman kaitiman in fact she’s tan, gumanti nalang siya and say ” maputi ka nga, patay gutom ka naman at low IQ ka pa” hahaha!

      Sa aking palagay, tama ‘yung sabihin mo sa daughter mo na ‘she’s beautiful’ irrespective of the color of her skin. At hindi dahil just to give her a boost but because it is true. At dahil matalino ang anak mo, sigruado ako na makukuha n’ya ang ibig mong sabihin.

      At dahil matalino ang anak mo, nababahala ako d’yan sa sinabi mo sa itaas. Ang pagtuturo mo ng pag-ganti (na taliwas sa kagandahang asal) ay maaring magbigay ng hindi magandang ehemplo sa iyong anak. Hindi maitatama ng pintas o kant’way ang isang pintas o kant’way rin. We don’t correct or address prejudice with another prejudice. Siguro mas magandang sabihin sa anak mo na i-ignore na lang n’ya ‘yung mga sabi-sabi.

      Sometimes feeling of inferioty comes from being sensitive o ‘yung madaling maapektuhan. Kaya kung ganti o retaliation ang ituturo nating paraan sa bata every time na may magsasalita about the color of their skin, lalo lang nating mabi-build up ‘yung inferioty complex in them.

  12. A bit offtopic but i think theres a bit of misconception regarding Finoys wanting whiter skin and being Caucasian wannabes. Just for the sake of Caucasians who think we are all head over heels towards them, Pinoys are actually aiming for either East Asian look or the Hispanic mestiza look. I wanna say this cause I am most of the time disgusted as well with the unhealthy looking skin of the Pakehas (cauc) and they scorn at the skin whitening products in the PI. Just FYI, glutathione is not just for skin whitening but also for making the skin look more supple, younger and glowing.

  13. The main problem with Filipinos is that they take things way too personally in person, on the internet etc. They take shit way too seriously and they tend to MISS the point. Minsan nakakainis na sila kasi hindi sila marunong umintindi. Mga emotional people masyado. Ayoko lang mag post sa internet na kasi masyado nilang dinadamdam yung mga salita.

  14. HELLO! The issue here is Lucy Lu, who made an offensive remark.

    Anyone would react if they’ve been insulted. It’s just the way it is. It’s human.

    Like being smart in choosing words on how we express ourselves.And it’s not the Filipinos fault if Lucy Lu is stupid at that.

    She’s trying to be clever with her explanation, but it only shows how an idiot she really is.

    Her apology is dumb. What out of context? She just made it clear what she thinks filipinos should look like. #CleverDumbRacistLucyLU

  15. I’m filipina and not at all offended by Ms. Liu’s comment. I have a latte color complexion and also concerned about getting too much sun which ruins the complexion and ages the skin prematurely regardless of what the skin tone is. The skin darkening is the first indicator that you have spent a lot of time exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays which is really not good for your skin if you want it to maintain it’s elasticity.

Leave a Reply to j'-o'-n'a-s' Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.