[antoy hilom]

An independent Cebu is not a wild idea or a Quixotic dream concocted by delusional Cebuanos.Â* It can be a reality if only we work for it.Â* But let's strive for this goal with equanimity, civility and tolerance for the other so-called Filipinos the Tagalogs, Ilonggos, Waray-warays, Pampangos and the Muslims of Mindanao.Â* I have so many Tagalog,Ilonggo, Waray friends not to mention Tagalaga ex-g.f.s (mind you they can be very sweet and caring).Â* What I'm really against is the institutionalization of discrimination against the other non-tagalogs and forcing into our curriculum a flawed national language policy.(you can read more about this in another thread, the articles of Benign0 are very very good).

Back in college, I had this false notion on the superiority of the Tagalogs based on my undiscerning admiration of the Manila bands like Circus, Balahibo, Electros, Flintstones, etc.Â* Little did I know that behind the rhytmn section of these bands were Cebuano Bisaya lead guitarists drummers not to mention lead vocalists.Â* At that time I shurgged off discrimination against Cebuano Bisaya by Tagalogs as baseless and pure paranoia, until I worked for a multinational company with a senior and management dominated by Tagalogs.Â* We protested against the policy on promotions which we considered biased in favor of Tagalogs.Â* Indeed Cebuanos who were as competent and hardworking as their Tagalog counterparts were "promoted" but under very risky conditions that our Tagalog brothers never experienced.Â* Many were assigned in Sulu, Zamboanga and other combat areas in Mindanao.Â* while the tagalogs were posted in very comfortable areas like Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo, Makati, etc.Â* Â*

While attending a business communications seminar,Â*we Bisayas were split into groups that were a mixed of different regions.Â* My other Bisaya counterparts, were eased out as leaders of their respective groups, my group as expected was led by a Tagalog.Â* Â*My Tagalog group members tried to downplay my contributions on so many exercises, only to find out that we were beaten badly because they did not consider my inputs.Â* On the second day of the Third day seminar we were way behind in the scoresheets.Â* My group members still managed to gang-up on me to shut up despite leading in the individual vocabulary test followed by two other Cebuanos!Â* Nabuwisit na ko and i just declared a coup de etat to the point of being too abrasive and made direct insults at my group members.Â* Our Tagalog leader can't even distinguish the words - prosecute and persecute - ako siyang gi tagaan ug example. "the jews were persecuted during World War II"..."the cebuanos are persecuted by the tagalogs"...hilom siya, but my fists were already chambered ready to knock him out if he uttered a protest.Â* From then on wa nay ni palag, until I got entangled again in one of the team competitions with another group member a pretentious smart-assed Tagala ex-colegiala who I argued with on the meaning the word ASCEND.Â* Visibly irked I asked her: "Pilar, do you pray the Rosary?" she replied, "Yes I do, why?"Â* then I asked again, what's the second Glorious mystery? She paused for awhile looked up, then conceded: "Oo nga 'no?"Â* On the last day of the seminar, I was made the de facto leader by the group and took the lead in the exercises.Â* We won hands down!Â* The second team, was led by a Cebuano!

In the many seminars I've attended along with our Tagalog brethrens, I always experience the same prejudice and the experience of being underestimated.Â* Â*that's why, during the first day of seminars during the traditional self-introduction among members:Â* I always introduce myself as a "Cebuano with a hard accent and an equally hard-fist!" WA NA LAGI MAG INAMAO!

So you young guys and girls still in college, think hard about this, don't be naive - YES, discrimination against Cebuanos exists in the workplace!!! Be ready for it!!