The comment resulted to the protest by Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DPA) also strongly protested. As a result, the article in the internet was erased. The author, the Editor and the Publisher asked for an apology.
But, at first the apology of Chip Tsao was not accepted , especially that he wrote a rejoinder stating that the Filipinos did not understand. He did not know that English is the second language of the Filipinos. Was like adding salt to the injury. He was declared ‘persona non grata’ or undesirable person. He was also banned entry in the Philippines
But, Chip Tsao went to the Philippine Consulate in Hongkong. There were many Filipinos there and he publicly apologized. It was a formal gathering with Chip Tsao and the Consul General on the stage. The Filipinos were civil. His request for apology was accepted. He even bowed in front of the Filipinos as a sign of remorse. Malacanyang also accepted his request for apology for the Filipino people.
It is, hoever my opinion that before accepting his request for apology, he should have asked to explain why he wrote his article calling the Philippines as a country of servants.
IS THE PHILIPPINES REALLY A COUNTRY OF SERVANTS? IF SO,
WHO’S TO BLAME?
My opinion is that both the Chinese columnist in Hongkong and the Filipinos were at fault. Chip Tsao was right and the Filipinos were only hurt. Consider this . . .
1). During the regime of former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, a certain President of a Maritime School (whose name I forgot) discovered a group of islamnds north of Palawan. He called it Freedon Islands. The islands usually disappeared during high tide and surfaced during low tide. He recommended sovereignty by the Philippines. Some even regarded him as “mentally imbalanced”. He was even called ‘the Commodore’ as a matter of joke.
The islands are now claimed in part or in whole by Vietnam, Chiona and he Philippines.
2). Again, during the regime of former President Marcos, he discouiraged our countrymen to work abroad. But, we did not listen. What was in our mind were the abuses during his term.
He even coined the term ‘brain drain’ He wanted the talent of the Filipinos used in the Philippines. There were highly educated Filipinos like doctors Engineers, Teachers, Nurses, mid-wives and many others who wanted to work abroad.
Today, only a part of the Spratly Island are3 being occupied by the Philippine government. With its local government (the barangay). In the islands are militia men (the AFP)the Tanod or Barangay Police. The governments of China and Vietnam showed their might by sending ships in the area. They even have their garrison. If we openly listened to the ‘Commodore’
3). But former President Ferdinand E. Marcos was banished to Hawaii until he died. There was the bloodless revolution. Many claimed heroism. He was replaced by a series of Presidents (men and women). His successors included former President Corazon C. Aquino; former President Fidel V. Ramos ; former President Joseph E. Estrada and now President Gloria M. Arroyo.
But, even after the reign of Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and now Arroyo, the culture of corruption among Filipinos remained.
Many Filipinos graduated in colleges and universities in ‘preparation to work abroad’. Many studied courses leading to white collar jobs. But, the jobs available are blue collar or technical jobs.
- A house helper is per se a helper (in Tagalog, --katulong;in Spanish –muchacha and in Bicol – katabang) . In order, perhaps, to appease these house helpers, the government changed their title or term to ‘house Managers’. Nobody in other countries and even in the Philippines called them by the name of House Managers. And to make the name sweeter, they coined the name as ‘kasambahay’ their employer called ‘domestic helpers’. Parents, who did not want to use the term ‘domestic helper’, call them as plain DH.
Let us remember what William Shakespeare said in his ‘Romeo and Juliet’. He said , “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.”
The worst insult is to call them ‘living heroes’ and when they return to the Philippines, temporarily or permanently, some airport personnel extort them. Are they heroes?
5). Politics seemed to be more important than value formation. Politics is practiced every day, even if election is still too far. One can earn more money from the government but remain scott free provided he or she belongs to the party in power.
Senator Merriam D. Santiago, in disgust said in congress tjt it was China which ‘invented’ graft and corruption. And the Filipinos, given bribe, learned very fast.
But, she apologized since it would affect the warm diplomatic relationship of both countries. BUT, THE MESSAGE WAS ALREADY SPOKEN.
6). Some doctors even went back to school not to further their studies but to study nursing. Their purpose is to go abroad. (The pay for a year in the Philippines could be earned in only a month abroad.)
A story goes that a Filipina midwife could not find a decent job in the Philippines . . .with a living salary to augment her husbands meager salary. – to provide proper education to their children. She went abroad leaving her youngest daughter still in Grade IV. Now, the same daughter is already a mother of one and the midwife is still working abroad.
Chip Tsao, instead of calling the Philippines a country of servants, instead, should call the Philippines ‘a country of martyrs’.
7). What will Chip Tsao feel if:
a). It is of public knowledge that graft and corruption in the Philippines were learned from the Chinese.
b). That the Philippine tri-media said that many illegal items entering the Philippines came from China.
c. That the highly anomalous NBN-ZTE deal involved Chinese business men and corporation.
d.). That we have not seen or heard of any young Chinese (boy or girl) died and was buried. (Jokingly, the Filipinos said that they were mixed with siopao or they are not reported but their names and other identities are assumed by illegal Chinese entrants.
WHAT SAY YOU, CHIP TSAO?
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