Cordillerans dress differently? Thousands said this calls for a meme

In one alleged module made for the Department of Education, one of the questions posted in a true or false test in Filipino was: “Hindi ako makikipaglaro sa aking kaklasi (sic) na Igorot dahil iba ang kanyang pananamit (I will not play with my Igorot classmate because he or she dresses differently).”

This and other textbook errors mostly discriminating against the Igorots made the rounds on social media, such that Cordillera representatives sought to correct these errors.

Cordillera netizens, however, were quick to turn the slight into a golden opportunity to showcase their indigenous attire.

More than 25,000 Cordillerans already posted under the hashtags #im_proud_to_be_an_igorot_challenge and #i_am_proud_igorot_challenge.

Among them are former Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Marie Rafael of the Communications Office of the President of the Philippines, and Team Lakay martial artist Harold Banario who dressed in G-strings and tapis. Members of the BIBAK organizations (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga) abroad also followed suit.

Mountain Province District Representative Maxi Dalog Jr wrote to Education Secretary Leonor Briones to correct these errors. He mentioned a module in which Igorots were depicted with dark complexion and kinky hair.

He said that he is willing to conduct a House inquiry under the House Committee on National Cultural Minorities and Indigenous Peoples headed by Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang.

Dalog said it is important for education officials to review their processes in the production of learning materials to avoid similar mistakes in the future because, as mentors of the youth, discrimination and oppression should be avoided right from the start to prevent people from having misconceptions about Igorots and other indigenous peoples, who are often depicted in a discriminatory way.

Benguet caretaker congressman Eric Yap of ACT-CIS also joined the fray, saying such errors will inculcate discrimination at an early age.

“It is unbelievable that such discriminatory remarks made its way to the learning modules of our students. Nakakagalit. Nakakadismaya. (It is anger-inducing and dismaying.) It is not clear whether it forms part of a textbook, a modul, or a test sheet but regardless of its form and context, this is an insult, an obvious form of discrimination and a mockery of our rich culture in the Cordillera.”

“We will not allow the aforesaid scenario to happen. We call on the Education department to undertake a massive review of its textbooks and other learning materials used in our schools. We urge Education Secretary Leonor Briones to issue a department order instructing teachers nationwide to forbid them from using discriminatory statements such as those that had been circulating over the past several days,” Yap said. – Rappler.com