Thanks but no thanks Ms. Gloria Diaz!

If we examine our country’s map with an appreciable degree of objectivity, we will realize that our island lies at the center of the archipelago. From this hub, we radiate our positive energies and we, as a result, attract people. It must be in this same vein that most of the elected officials of Samar Province are here starting today. They have chosen Cebu for theoretical reinvigoration. In the next three days, they will share some thoughts on effective local legislation. The least we can do for them is to show our famous brand of hospitality every time we meet them when they break from their sessions. To our Waray brothers from Samar, welcome.

Cebu was a civilized place when the Portuguese adventurer named Magellan, then sailing for the crown of Spain, came. That is the only logical conclusion from the historical account that he befriended our local chieftain. The presence of a village chief established the fact that we had some form of government. Were we not an organized community, we would not have a chief.

Then there is this additional historical fact that Magellan met waterloo from the skilled local warrior named Lapu-lapu. Verbal accounts continue to come down to us that Lapu-lapu was an expert in our own brand of martial arts – arnis. Can it not be said that such a practice may also be offered as evidence of our development as a people?

And when the remainder of Magellan’s expedition hurried back to Spain, they did not even hear of such a place as Manila, let alone alone visit it.

It thus came to pass that when the Spanish crown sent one expedition after another, they consciously sought for Cebu. Then they made our city their first settlement in this part of the globe. Manila, or its environs, came into their view much later.

I attempt to state as briefly as possible these historical data in the light of the insult hurled our way by a one-time international beauty titlist. Gloria Diaz (has she married and still chose to stick to her famous name?) uttered remarks that sullied forever her image.

But, the truth is that Ms. Diaz only verbalized the perception among some (but not most) Tagalogs that they are a kind of superior race! Superior to Cebuanos, that is. Really, there are but a few of them but they are the ones, who despite some trappings of fame and fortune, are imprisoned by their own insecurities. And because Ms. Diaz only serves as a prejudiced mouth piece, we can not expect her to be circumspect in her language.

Indeed, Ms. Diaz is not supposed to become the object of our collective hatred. We cannot even point an accusing finger at her because doing that only reveals the stark reality. Oh my goodness, notwithstanding our historical prominence, we, for all these years, have allowed these few Tagalog settlers in our islands to continue to degrade us.

Take the case of the very powerful tool of communication, the movies. Is it not that Manila produced films portray the Bisaya as the bumbling maid? Or an unlettered driver? Or a stupid janitor? And what do we do each time our image is made an object of this humiliation? We validate their insults. Our unmistakable laughter is an admission against our interest. No one among us seems to stand up in rightful indignation. Rather than assert our pride, we cooperate in the assault of our integrity and even bow in timid submission.

It is timely that Ms. Diaz, no less, has upped the ante. The Bisaya must not be humiliated any further. It is just about the time that we respect our own ethnicity. Whenever someone mocks at our regional tongue, we should, in our most respectful manner, tell him that the English in the Southern States of America sounds differently. Better still each time we meet a Tagalog in our shore, who thinks he is high and mighty, let him, the visitor, adjust to our language. After all, when we visit Malacañang, we endeavor to speak their tongue!

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