As Pinoy as those in Imperial Manila | Inquirer Opinion

As Pinoy as those in Imperial Manila

/ 12:14 AM June 30, 2016

“We shouldn’t judge people through the prism of our own stereotypes.”—Queen Rania of Jordan

Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, the next president of the Philippines, comes from Davao City.  Leni Robredo, the incoming vice president, comes from Naga City.

Duterte’s Cabinet choices are mostly from the provinces. And some people from Imperial Manila refer to them as promdi—a word of disparagement coined from the phrase “from the province.”

Article continues after this advertisement

If the Bisaya and the Mindanaoan are promdi, so how should we call people from Imperial Manila? “Urbasites” (short for urban parasites)? They are called urbanites because they live in an urban area and modern amenities are within their reach, yet parasites because they practically rely on the natural manna from the provinces.

FEATURED STORIES

Shame on people who disparage the promdi. With their discriminatory frame of mind, they encourage discord and disunity in this country, among our very own people.

In their eyes,  Mindanao is just a second-class, or even third-class, far-flung corner of the Philippines and, therefore, deserves only the backseat. But not anymore this time. The seat of power is now in Davao, literally, at least for the next six years.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Urbasites” also call people from the Visayas and Mindanao “bisdak” for “bisayang dako” (a genuine Bisaya) which suggests of the latter’s being manifestly “very provincial.” Forgetting altogether—even as they proclaim as their own—that the reigning Miss Universe is a bisayang dako, a promdi, a home-grown beauty from Cagayan de Oro.

Article continues after this advertisement

And now we will soon have two promdi occupying the two highest positions of government in our land—Duterte and Robredo.

Article continues after this advertisement

And, of course, not to forget one of the world’s greatest boxing icons of all time, who will also be sitting as a senator-elect, Manny Pacquiao, a purebred promdi and bisdak from Sarangani province.

The promdi are as Pinoys as the people from Imperial Manila, and they deserve to be called such.

Article continues after this advertisement

—RUFFY MAGBANUA, ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo.com

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Imperial Manila, Leni Robredo, promdi, Rodrigo Duterte

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.