Community
I wish I could take my words back
“I recognize the weight my words carry, especially the ones I’ve carelessly said towards my loved ones. It shocks me when they mention something I’ve said years ago and express how much it still hurts them to this day. As selfish as it sounds, I don’t even remember saying it or the damage I caused. I know in my heart of hearts that I never intended for it that way. But you can still hurt someone without intentionally realizing it. I carried on with my life not taking in the cause and effect of my words.”
Colourism is alive and well in the Filipino beauty pageant culture as witnessed in the recent Miss Universe 2020 controversies. Journalist Nicole Marie Valdez discusses personal experiences, the colonial history of the Philippines, and the need for human compassion in times like these.