The International Size Acceptance Association Philippines Branch is an organization made up of volunteers who share a common goal which is to promote size acceptance in the country. "Size Acceptance" doesn't mean just acceptance for plus-sized individuals. It includes all shapes and sizes. ISAA Philippines is being headed by Ms. Karen Ang, whose dream is for the Philippines to be rid of size discrimination in the near-future. She believes that this can be achieved through advocacy, visibility, and lawful protests and actions. However, a size-accepting Philippines cannot be made by one woman alone. She needs your help to make this dream a reality. The organization needs more members right now, members who will contribute and implement ideas on how to make ISAA more visible. ISAA Philippines isn't asking for donations at the moment. What we need is more manpower and great minds.

Size Discrimination in the Philippines

by Karen Ang
The Philippines, an archipelago located in the South East Asia, used to be composed of people of the Malay race. Due to free trade and colonization later on, there was a boom of interracial marriages, mostly with those of Chinese or Spanish origins. The short and brown physique evolved into a country full of diverse figures, colors, and height.

The natural course would be for Filipinos to accept the diversity but somewhere along the way, the tall, fair, and slim body type became the ideal. Hundreds of years later, it continues to worsen especially with the media's perpetuation of this impossible ideal.

It is now deeply embedded in the Filipino's psyche that those who don't fit the mold can be the object of mean remarks and ridicule. This includes their big-bodied counterparts regardless of how they became that way. It became automatic to equate fat people to sloth and gluttony. Everywhere they go, they are now moving targets either as subjects of malicious jokes or means of instilling fear in children ("If you don't behave well, you'll become like that monster").

The media, advertising, and weight-loss industries are among those who prey on their worsening self-esteem but their basic needs such as clothing, health and safety are ignored. If nothing is done to address the current situation, the number of those suffering from eating disorders will continue to rise in an alarming rate and the plus-size's life will surely worsen. Now is the perfect time to take a stand.

How You Can Help

You can help by first studying the mission, goals, and F.A.Q. of ISAA. From there, you may join the Philippines Branch mailing list where you will meet other supporters of the organization and exchange experiences and ideas with them. You may also print out posters and flyers which can be found here.