“It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” That’s the mantra made popular by the Department of Tourism, one that portrays this Asian country and its population as friendly, hospitable and endearing. Yet, observers are wondering whether Filipinos have a dark side to this characterization. Like being ‘racists,’ ‘bigots,’  ‘sexists’ and ‘homophobes.’

A quick scan of Philippine social media clearly shows that netizens are not holding back when describing politicians and other personalities that they do not favor.

The following are just examples of how netizens (and sadly, some of the media) resort to unsavory name-calling:

• President NoyNoy Aquino – panot (balding), bakla (gay)
• Vice President Jojo Binay, Senator Nancy Binay, Makati City Mayor JunJun Binay , Floyd Mayweather  – nognog (n*gger)
• Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – pandak (dwarf)
• Senator Juan Ponce Enrile – tanda (old man)
• Kris Aquino – Ms. STD (a name she was called after going public about a sexually-transmitted disease she allegedly acquired from her ex-boyfriend)
• Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago – Loka (crazy)
• Undocumented Immigrants – TNT, or Tago Nang Tago  (Always hiding)

Less offensive, but still inappropriate labeling:

• Politicians – epal  (attention-grabber)
• Congress – buwaya (crocodile)
• Senator Jinggoy Estrada – sexy
• Senator Bongbong Revilla – pogi  (handsome)

(Estrada and Revilla are two of three senators jailed for corruption charges, the other being Enrile.  The trio are often referred to as sexy, pogi and tanda.)

There is nothing wrong with openly criticizing public figures for their policies and actions, but it can be done in the most civil of ways, without personal attacks or offensive labels.

Perhaps, we need to put ourselves on the receiving end of the name-calling to realize that it is, indeed, quite repulsive.