THESIS STATEMENT:

Privilege is a special right granted by the society to a certain person or group

people which enables them to receive more benefits than those who lack thereof.
TOPIC: Privilege
TITLE: Ginto’t Kayumanggi: A Discussion of Privilege in the Philippines
1. Introduction
1.1. A quote from the short film “zero”
“We're all born of the same matter. However, we're not all born equal... Some people
are born to be leaders, effecting great change amongst their people; Others are born
into mediocrity, living unremarkable lives; But for some, Life will be a constant battle
offering zero opportunities” - Zealous Creative
1.2. Definition of Privilege
1.3. The trending “white privilege” content in social media
Talks of privilege have emerged during the case of George Floyd which eventually
pave way to the promotion of “Black Lives Matter”. This trend is about exposing white
privilege. Regardless of what kind of privilege one may have (social, racial, financial,
etc.), it mainly circles around a biased treatment of concerned individuals for certain
cases.
1.4. An overview of privilege in the Philippine Setting
Thesis Statement: Privilege is a special right granted by the society to a certain
person or group people which enables them to receive more benefits than those who
lack thereof.

2. Privilege in the Philippines

2.1. Philippines’ Colonial History
As a country colonized by different nationalities, Filipinos have experienced a racial
divide. During the Spanish Colonial period, those who are born with Spanish blood
are highly regarded in the society. It gave them the benefit of education and respect
from other Spaniards and Filipinos-alike. Americans also introduced their own
education system, which Filipinos back then easily adapted. This is one of the things
that introduced the Filipinos to the racism existing in America.
2.2. Colonial Mentality
Nowadays, Filipinos’ ideal standards are what’s based of in the US. Take beauty and
cosmetics for example; whitening products are all the rage in the Philippines.
2.3. Discrimination in the Philippines
The culture of the Filipino people roots deep into history. This kind of mentality has
embedded our perspective towards treatment based on nationality, accents, and
even the color of the skin.
2.4. Poverty in the country and its limitations
Being born into a poor family makes no difference. As poverty grew in the country,
many families without the privilege of money have limited opportunities for their
children.

3. The great divide among the Filipino People

3.1. Definition of a privileged individual
The privilege of individuals can be categorized to any basis such as race, gender,
financial status, social status, and much more.
3.2. Benefits of a privileged individual
Take gender for example, Females were originally forbidden to participate in the
elections until a law was passed which enabled them starting from 1933. Before this
date, the privilege of being a man has its benefits and gender discrimination was a
thing.
3.3. Definition of an unprivileged individual
People do not choose where they are born. Some will be born in a poor family, study
hard, achieve a lot in work, but still be discriminated because of other factors such as
race and gender.
3.4. Discriminatory evidences towards unprivileged individuals
This way of thinking is what a lot activists are trying to break.

4. The PH Government Rule during the Pandemic

4.1. Government actions to aid its constituents during the pandemic
During the pandemic, the Government has made actions to reduce the contact of
people, which included the ban on public transportation.
4.2. Elitism in the Country
As much as the policies implemented were thought of with good intentions,
policymakers did not consider those without the privilege of working from home or a
roof over their head.
4.3. Biases and Political Parties
Some individuals who take actions in their own hand are ridiculed just because of
being an opposition to political parties.
4.4. Romanticism of Filipino Resilience
It has been mentioned by the government that Filipinos should try their best to
survive, without even thinking that the policies implemented prevent them to do so.

5. Conclusion
5.1. Cause of Discrimination in the society
Privilege and Discrimination has a cause and effect relationship. A long history
moulded the Filipino’s ideologies which greatly affect the treatment towards other
people.
5.2. Effects of Discrimination in the society
It even came a to a point where individuals with money and “good” physique advance
more in life and gain more opportunities than those who lack of it.
5.3. Cultural Sensitivity
Receiving benefits for one who is privileged inevitable. However, one must always
consider those who are not born with a silver spoon.
5.4. Parting Words
As a song by Gloc-9 says: “we all experience the same storm but are on different
boats.”
 Ginto’t Kayumanggi:
A Discussion of Privilege in the Philippines
By Ira Maeven Lagundino
“We are all born of the same matter. However, we are not all born equal ... Some people
are born to be leaders, effecting great change amongst their people; Others are born
into mediocrity, living unremarkable lives; But for some, life will be a constant battle
offering zero opportunities” - Zealous Creative
Talks of privilege have emerged during the case of George Floyd, which eventually
pave the way to the promotion of Black Lives Matter. This trend is about exposing white
privilege. Regardless of what kind of privilege one may have (social, racial, financial,
etc.), it mainly circles a biased treatment of concerned individuals for certain cases.
Privilege is a special right granted by society to a certain person or group of people
which enables them to receive more benefits than those who lack thereof.
As a country colonized by different nationalities, Filipinos have experienced a racial
divide. During the Spanish Colonial period, those who are born with Spanish blood are
highly regarded in society. It gave them the benefit of education and respect from
other Spaniards and Filipinos-alike. Americans also introduced their education system,
which Filipinos back then easily adapted. This is one of the things that introduced the
Filipinos to the racism existing in America. Nowadays, Filipinos’ ideal standards are
what’s based on in the US. Take beauty and cosmetics for example; whitening products
are all the rage in the Philippines. The culture of the Filipino people roots deep into
history. This kind of mentality has embedded our perspective towards treatment based
on nationality, accents, and even the color of the skin. Being born into a poor family
makes no difference. As poverty grew in the country, many families without the
privilege of money have limited opportunities for their children.
The privilege of individuals can be categorized on any basis such as race, gender,
financial status, social status, and much more. Take gender, for example, Females were
originally forbidden to participate in the elections until a law was passed which enabled
them starting from 1933. Before this date, the privilege of being a man has its benefits
and gender discrimination was a thing. People do not choose where they are born.
Some will be born in a poor family, study hard, achieve a lot at work, but still, be
discriminated against because of other factors such as race and gender. This way of
thinking is what a lot of activists are trying to break.
During the pandemic, the government has made actions to reduce the contact of
people, which included the ban on public transportation. As much as the policies
implemented were thought of with good intentions, policymakers did not consider
those without the privilege of working from home or a roof over their head. Some
individuals who take actions in their hands are ridiculed just because of being an
opposition to political parties. It has been mentioned by the government that Filipinos
should try their best to survive, without even thinking that the policies implemented
prevent them to do so.
Privilege and Discrimination has a cause and effect relationship. A long history molded
Filipino’s ideologies, which affected the treatment towards other people. It even came
to a point where individuals with money and a “good” physique advance more in life
and gain more opportunities than those who lack it. Receiving benefits for one who is
privileged inevitable. However, one must always consider those who are not born with
a silver spoon. As a song by Gloc-9 says: “we all experience the same storm but are on
different boats.”

References:
Check your privilege: What is the trend going viral on TikTok? | The Independent | The
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kenya-big-mamma-racism-a9547731.html
Definition of PRIVILEGE. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privilege
It’s about privilege, not about working or studying hard. (n.d.). Rappler. Retrieved
September 30, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/privilege-filipino-
society
Philippine HiStory Today: The right to suffrage, empowering the Filipina—FFE
Magazine. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from
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the-filipina/
Privilege at the height of pandemic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1244543/pandemic-covid-19-enhanced-communitry-
quarantine-covid-19-coronavirus-lockdown-covid-19-watch
White privilege and its lasting effects on Filipinos’ colonial history and America
today—. (2020, July 4). Asian Journal News. https://www.asianjournal.com/life-
style/lifestyle-columnists/white-privilege-and-its-lasting-effects-on-filipinos-colonial-
history-and-america-today/
Zero. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOMbySJTKpg