I’M HAPPY to hear about the worldwide recognition the Philippines is getting. First, with the success of the Southeast Asian Games even though it had a rocky beginning, and now in the world of animation with the Disney-Pixar short film “Float” that has Filipino-American characters. We are slowly spreading our wings for the world to see our skills.
However, amidst all the laurels, writer-director and animator Bobby Rubio admits he originally designed the characters as Caucasians even though the story is based on him and his son, who are Filipino-Americans.
It was only when his co-worker at Pixar said that “since it’s your story, the characters should be Filipino-American” did he change his sketches.
He also thought how his son would feel when he sees the film, knows it’s about him, but sees himself being portrayed by a Caucasian even though his race is Filipino.
He admitted to having an unconscious bias towards the appearance of the characters.
Why do we have this unconscious bias?
Sure, we support Filipino movies, music and celebrities, but it’s the image of ourselves that we’re still afraid to show the world. Is it because we think nobody would really care if a character in a story looked like us?
Is it because we are a minority and people of color?
Even our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, wasn’t immune to this. In the Noli Me Tangere, his main character Crisostomo Ibarra, though he has dark skin, also had “European features.” Ibarra was based on Rizal who has very Filipino features.
Is it a product of our colonial mentality?
The trauma we suffered after years of being colonized has made us insecure about the Filipino image. We lighten our skin, make our nose lines look higher, and do everything we can to look more “white” (whether it be American, European, or Korean white). Unlike other races of color, we don’t really promote our traditional looks.
I know it may be easy for me to say since I don’t look like a native Filipino, but the way to truly be beautiful is to believe you are. There are so many aspects about the Filipino that are attractive and worthy of exposure.
I think we are getting there though especially since millennials are very supportive of Filipino music and movies that have more depth now in terms of message and story.
It’s time we embraced the natural beauty of our race in all its shapes, sizes and colors./PN
