Prince Harry once attended a costume party with a Nazi insignia on his sleeves and the media went wild. Now he apparently said to a black comedian that the “didn’t sound black”, and he is being sent to a racial awareness training.

I don’t know who’s paying for it. The taxpayers?

Maybe it would be better to just issue the Royals a list of things they are not allowed to say or do in public. Less hassle and cost-effective. But then no one will know the level of their ignorance or snobbishness.

It’s like all these rules the PC-machine keeps churning out to Councils and government officials. MPs, the Met, and now priests cannot join the racist party BNP. Personally I’d like them to join and have a list sent around the neighbourhood. Better to see your enemies in daylight than have them serving you poison on the sly.

Britain’s stance on racism and equality is okay with me. I mean, I’m a “minority” afterall and anything that upholds my rights can only be a good thing. Right?

But I guess being Pinoy, I’m not so bothered. Sanay na ko. In my own country I get discriminated against by my own people.

It’s common for people to remark how fat I am or dark my skin is. It’s acceptable marketing ploy to have dumbass celebrities flaunt their mestiza skin to promote whitening creams or other products meant to attract men. You get haughty SM salesgirls who will not want to assist you if you don’t look “right”.

It’s a common practise to use contacts to get jobs or projects that you’re not equipped for.

I didn’t realise how ingrained all these are in my psyche. In my first job, my manager’s fiancee called me to say my bossing is in hospital. Later on when she was all better she told me that her fiancee couldn’t believe how fluent I was in English. Apparently “the only Chinese people he spoke to were from takeaways”. I could and should have been offended on so many levels here. But I am ashamed to admit, the rest just went over my head and all I heard was I spoke good English.

When Pining told me of the BBC documentary on Sunday, I made sure I booked it in my calendar. I sat and shivered as the hosts showed the good, the bad and the really ugly in the Philippines.

I agree with some of the sentiments that the show was not entirely flattering. Imagine being shown the North Cemetery and the thriving communities with teenage boys removing 5-year old bones. Or the trash thrown about by the Badjao in the very area where they live, garbage floating around their homes.

But what entered my head was for people who love the “exotic” and adventure, the show managed to present our islands as something of an undiscovered treasure. Typical of Third World Countries, corruption and poverty are ripe, but there are beauties and wonders to discover.

That’s just me though. So maybe my attitude like this because I have the slave mentality and I’m so thankful for little morsels of grace. Or I’m just dense.