As a kid I’ve watched mestizas and mestizos run the industry, I’ve thought beauty revolved around that kind of labelling—the innocence of my youth gone down the drain as I washed myself up with whitening products indicating my self loathing of my own skin. But what is real Pinoy beauty?

         In our history even way before the colonisation of the spaniards, our Filipino ancestors residing in the islands of the Philippines has always admired the beauty of being light skinned. When a Datu’s wife bears a beautiful white skinned daughter, the binukots, the princesses of the pre-hispanic era, they are considered treasures hence treated highly. Even before in our history what is aesthetic to the eyes has always been objectified to that kind of manner. Having white skin gives an individual unspeakable advantages. You will be admired by many, envied by some, and get the perks that those with brown skin tone could only wish for. Although most Filipinos are born with nut-brown skin, our society has taught us to devalue it (eg commercial about whitening products). After all, our actions are shaped by the standards set by the surrounding society, that white is synonymous to beauty.

         Media, as a platform of entertainment means junction into the revolving society, has always been a major factor affecting the basis of beauty, standardised as such: unblemished white skin, small pointed nose, physically fit body, and big pouty lips to be one of the few characteristics represented in the television screens, in commercials, pointing out the envisioned physical self. It is true that the pure Filipino features are often underrepresented in the Philippine entertainment and is dominated by mixed blood Pinoys. A recent example is the prime time series Bagani that was aired in ABS-CBN supposedly representing the native tribes of the Philippine archeology, but was then casted by half blooded mestizas and mestizos, dismissing a factual portrayal of the characters. The problematic part here is that, though they tried to achieve the skin type of being one, the depiction that they had to use a foreign look tells a lot. Because, Why not a real moreno and moreno? Are we that fame inclined rather than culture inclined?

         The effects of the belittlement of the real Pinoy beauty has gain its hostility towards its own. BULLYING: ‘Baluga ka’, ‘ang dumi mo’, ‘ang pangit naman ng balat mo’ and ‘mas better if maputi ka’, words derived its menacing derogative slurs paved way to shaming and discrimination, this kind of hatred afflicting in the mindset of Filipinos largely costs a sense of loathing towards oneself ‘sana maputi nalang ako’. The essence of self-love completely destroyed, an individual’s confidence diminishes. The thing is, we are our own enemy, we put up violence against and towards our own kind, teaching them not to treat themselves as the same with those different of color as if there is a difference. And this is why,

         We should STAND TOGETHER WITH NATURAL PINOY BEAUTY to give strength and confidence towards ourselves, towards others. That being brown skinned is okay, it is natural, it is beauty, it is ours. Wear your skin out, be comfortable with it because you are your own definition of beauty. YOU DEFINE YOU.