To be honest, something like “flip” just doesn’t have the bite. “FOB” is a discriminatory term that can be interpreted as offensive when you understand what it means. “Coconut” and “Pineapple” rubbed me the wrong way because it assumes that there are specific codes of conduct and cultural tastes that someone of a particular ethnicity should follow. “Asian N***ers” and “Buffalo N***ers” is just plain wrong and to my mind there’s some repressed violence associated with those words.

Still, it’s important to know these racial slurs – particularly if you’re new to a a given workplace or other environment – because while you may not take offense when the terms are applied to you, you’re aware of the presence of prejudice, discrimination, racism, or (god forbid) violence.

Myself working in a diverse workplace/country, these are certainly big no-nos! But anytime I feel there’s more to what’s actually being said (and some non-Fils are expert at this) I react and tell them off right away.

Example, one non-Fil person told me in jest (kuno?), “shape up or ship out” and I confronted him right away. Oh I was joking, said he. These words were actually non- slurs, but taken into context (how/when said), I felt them to be.

Went to white boss and complained. Boss said, yes – if it offends you and you feel it’s a racist remark, then, it is probaby, a racist or a biased remark.

Most ethnic “slurrers”, when confronted, would say ” I was joking/it was a joke). Don’t be fooled.

If one’s working outside the Philippines, one becomes more alert and give meaning to the words cited in your column. It’s best that way.