Why being a Muslim Filipino can sometimes be funny...*
Being a Muslim in the Philippines can be tough. Without even knowing who you are, you can be subjected to discrimination, that range from slight to really bad, just because of the name you carry or something that you wear (the kombong (veil) for women and the kopya or the tableegh outfit for men). Honestly, I have always been more oblivious than conscious of the 'slight discrimination' that I’ve so far been subjected to as a Muslim based in Manila.
I usually would just keep my calm or come back at people with jokes when I experience being treated like someone so stupid or someone who has no feelings at all. I would always try my best to stay as cool as I can by reminding myself that I know better than the kind of people who discriminate. Also, sometimes, I see that it is not really hatred that makes them do such things that inevitably insult me, it is actually sheer ignorance. Some people just don’t know anything. I do admit, though, that there are times when I can’t help but lose my temper.
Here are some of the "funniest experiences" that come to mind right now:
1. One of my closest college friends, who happens to be a Christian, decided to introduce me to a female friend he had just met. As I held out my hand to shake hers, she backed off and hid behind my friend’s back. I really didn’t understand why. I just looked at my friend and shrugged. The girl kept peeping, though, and making noises, the kind that would usually be that of a very frightened child.
Me: Anong problema? (What's the problem?)
Girl: Takot kasi ako sa mga Muslim eh. (I'm afraid of Muslims, you see.)
Me: Ha? Bakit? (Huh? Why?) *Oh. Dear. God.*
Girl: Kasi masama daw ugali ng mga Muslim, lalo kapag galit! (Because I heard that Muslims are bad, especially when they're angry.)
Me: Hello?! Hindi naman. (That's not true.)
Girl: Pumapatay daw kayo kapag galit! (I heard that you actually kill when you're mad!)
Me: Nye! Hindi naman ako galit eh... pero sa totoo lang malapit na akong magalit! (Yikes! Well, I'm not mad... but I'm actually starting to get mad right now!)
*Of course, I was half-joking and smiling when I said this!*
The girl got more scared. Apparently, she didn’t have the same sense of humor I did. I glared at my embarrassed friend and told him, in Bisaya, never to introduce me to people like that! Hadn’t my friend taken her away at that moment, I could have clawed her eyes out! Hey, I was already galit by then! Tsk, tsk, tsk.
2. I was walking with some new friends I met from a program I joined somewhere in the North. We passed by a store where a very popular song was blaring and I, of course, sang along.
New Friend: *obviously very surprised* Ay, bakit mo alam ‘yan? (Hey, why do you know that?)
Me: Alin? (Which?)
New Friend: ‘Yung kanta. (That song.)
Me: Eh, uso kaya 'yan. (Why, it's very popular.)
New Friend: Tinutugtog ‘yan sa radio stations sa lugar ‘nyo? (Radio stations in your place play that song?)
Me: Oo naman. At saka, araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, pinapalabas kaya sa MTV ‘yan! (Of course! And, besides, that's played on MTV every single day!)
New Friend: Hindi ba’t tina-translate sa Muslim ang mga kanta kapag pinatutugtog sa Mindanao? (Aren't songs translated to Muslim when they're played in Mindanao?)
Me: Uhm, hindi. At saka walang lengguwaheng Muslim ang pangalan. (Uhm, no. And, there's no such thing as Muslim language.)
And, I continued singing! This time, louder...
I’ve also experienced very "funny" yet disturbing things in dealing with cab drivers, waiters, security guards and the like. A cab driver assumed I was a drug pusher because he was sure that all Muslims based in Manila are drug pushers. Some lady told her daughter, not very softly, to guard and be very careful with her bag while pointing at me with her lips. In these instances, I couldn’t believe what was happening at first and then, eventually, I’d just raise an eyebrow and laugh. I have weird sense of humor, I know.
Being a Muslim in the Philippines can be tough, but it affords one lots of "funny" situations. Do I hear you laughing?
__
* This is an edited version of my article previously published in the
Comments
and syempre ang akong gikataw-an kay ang pagka-ignoy sa mga tawo nga dili aware unsa juy naa sa south...
kaluoy sab nila oi... pero makaulit sab biya noh...
in my experience some people thought we still wear bahag or even ride carabaos as means of tranportation
ay ambot oi!
guess what?! bok's staying at my thai foster family.:) saya,'no?:)
I teach in a somewhat diverse neighborhood (more diverse here in my section of Los Angeles, than in other regions of America). However, the majority of the students grow up in a Judeo-Christian heritage. I love having students who are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist in my class. Every year they are assigned to create a family heritage scrapbook and present it to class. We also have a heritage party, so that we can sample foods from other cultures.
-liz
Pinoy Teachers Network
Great post, Baby Pink! =)
Hope to meet and share a cup of coffee with you soon. Let's compare notes on this interesting subject.
doc, exactly! sadly, not a lot of people are like you.
trick, your having grown up in mindanao would really immerse you man gyud sa muslim culture kahit paano, 'di ba? and, when a person is exposed to another culture man kay masabtan ra gyud sa tao nga bisa'g unsang kultura or asa ka gikan, pare-pareho man lang ta!:)
naomi, alaikumussalaaam.:) salamat.:)
anicee, oo nga eh. may sa weird nga 'yang comment na 'yan. sige, insha-Allah, i-st natin 'yan.:)
I do admit though that I get frightened by stories I've heard of how patriarchal Islamic societies can be, with regards to what women can and cannot do, and the harsh punishments they receive for little mistakes that most of the time have to do with "lewd behavior" or something to do with their sexuality.
I don't think I'm prejudiced, because I haven't prejudged anyone, and I don't translate these feelings into my actions. But I'd just like to ask an honest question: what is a woman in the eyes of a Muslim man? What is sexuality in the Islam religion?
I know this is unanswerable because there millions of Muslim men out there who all feel a different way. But if you can enlighten me, please do.
I know you once said in an entry that the reason why Muslim women cover themselves is because women are supposed to be the most beautiful creatures in the world and they shouldn't be left uncovered lest they become temptations. But if that is so, why are they treated so badly in some Islamic societies, like they're not human?
Please shed some light on this. As a woman, I am always so deeply affected by such storied.
I know that women are beaten and raped all over the world, no matter what religion or culture. But I get the impression that it's extra bad for women in some Islamic societies.
What are your thoughts on this?
stories of women treated really badly always make me cry and writhe in anger. i guess i'm really thankful that i wasn't born in any of these "extremist" countries. i cannot judge, though, as i do not know much.
as for sexuality, from what i know, islam is very rigid about what a man is and how he should be/act and what a woman is and how she should be/act. i am not very knowledgeable as of yet, but, insha-Allah, when i've read more and asked my dad about these things, i might be able to expound on this. i don't feel i am in the position, you see.:)
Haaay. By the way, since we're on the topic of Muslim women, did you hear about the Saudi lady who was misrepresented by Oprah in one of her shows? I felt so strongly about it, being from Jeddah and all. The Saudi lady was a battered wife. Apparently, Oprah offered to interview her for a segment on battered wives all over the world. Instead of showing her clip on that particular segment, though, Oprah showed it on another segment which was on women around the world. One would see a happy American lady, a French socialite, an Italian bella, an African woman, and a badly beaten Saudi. Oprah even remarked how lucky she was being an American and not a Saudi woman. Outrageous! Considering how much love I have for Oprah! Grrrr.
ipekhada-kadali aken seka, drug!!!:)
i grew up in maguindanao and i studied for a year in general santos. i have muslim friends. it's a misconception na ang mga muslims, "madaling magalit at pumapatay."
oh well...
noringai
lynn, thanks. padayon ta tanan!;)
yun lang. :)
ignorance doesnt excuse anyone, before sana maging judgmental ang isang tao, research first then learn, or keep quiet na lang. like when somebody comments "masama ang ugali ng mga iyan, muslim kasi", dont say a word until you talk to that person. kasi ako, i believe that in any jungle, there are snakes. therefore, Manilenos or others from different regions can't claim that they have better viewpoints or attitude than the Muslims. marami rin ditong masagwa ang pag-uugali o di maayos ang ginagawa as they perceive Muslims to be.
thanks!:)
it's good to hear that you found the ep very informative. norhata (the girl who was married when she was very young and who is now happy with the husband) is a very good friend of mine. auntie minang (the one who refused to marry the peson she was arranged to) is my aunt.:)
that didn't happen to me, thank God.:) but, i don't really know if my parents have chosen for me or not. i'm confident, though, that should i be arranged i will have a say.:)
bluestain, yeah, poor girl. bayaan na lang natin. naku, if she was "brought down south" she'd probably die of heart attack. what with all the galit muslims there and all! tsk, tsk, tsk...
salaamun alaik.:)