In an effort to curb racism in media and promote cultural understanding, lawyer Eldrige Marvin Aceron has sent books to TV and radio personality Ben Tulfo, host of the program “Bitag.”
The move stemmed from an episode of “Bitag” aired early February wherein Mr. Tulfo referred to an Indian expat with racist remarks. Mr. Tulfo described the man in the complaint as “bumbay” and addressed the same with this statement, “Dapat ang inaatupag nito ay magbenta ng mga mosquitero o di kaya kulambo o di kaya pautang ng five-six.”
Atty. Aceron has sent two books on Indian culture to Mr. Tulfo: A Brief History of the Great Moghuls by Bamber Gascoigne and Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation by Nandan Nilekani. Both titles elaborate on India’s rich history and great leaders.
In an open letter to Mr. Tulfo posted on Facebook, Atty. Aceron said that the media personality’s speech “reflect a limited experience with Indian nationals.” Atty. Aceron explained, “Bombay is just a city in India, not all Indians are from Bombay. Further, it is now known as Mumbai. So, it is wrong for a person to refer to an Indian as ‘bumbay.’”
Atty. Aceron pointed out that the perception of Indians as persons who engage in money lending and peddling umbrellas is an outdated view. He emphasized, “They are at the top of the technology world and you can hardly see them peddling mosquito nets.” The books, he told Mr. Tulfo, were tools for the latter to be aware of his prejudice. “So you (Mr. Tulfo) may understand that your limited knowledge of Indians needs some upgrade.”
On the same day he had the books delivered, Atty. Aceron also expressed that he will do his best to help cure Mr. Tulfo of racism. ”I am soliciting the help of friends to help introduce you to India and its culture, the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who taught us active non-violence, Rabindrath Tagore, the great poet contemporary of Jose Rizal, and others.”
