Jokes on Nancy indicative of racism in PH?

I am not a fan of Senator-elect Nancy Binay. But each time she is poked fun at because of her skin complexion, I, as an Ibanag, feel offended.

Vice President Jojo Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile are Ibanag like me. We hail from Cagayan Valley. The Ibanag represent the second largest language community in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, after Ilocano.

Ibanag are stereotyped as dark-skinned. But is being dark-skinned bad? Are we Ibanag being looked down upon by some of our people because of our dark skin tone? Like Senator-elect Binay, I have never looked at my skin color as something to be ashamed of. I am very proud of it.

Is racism real in our country?

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

Assistant city council secretary,

Marikina City,

reginaldtamayo@yahoo.com