Malu Fernandez, Manila Standard Today, Bigotry In The Media

I really don’t like this kind of person, please read. I have copied this from Tingog.com, please visit his site and read the comments. My boyfriend forwarded this to me and I forwarded this to my MidShift colleagues and one of them got irritated and intends to send a letter to Manila Standard.

Written on August 16th, 2007 by nick Posted in Social Concerns

With the recent irresponsible, elitist, bigoted, and discriminating comments made by Manila Standard Today columnist Marlu Fernandez in her People Asia magazine article “From Boracay to Greece” in which she makes many belittling comments about Overseas Filipino Workers and Filipinos in general, the response from Filipino bloggers have been overwhelming, and have not been light on the criticism. When do we say enough is enough and that we will no longer stand for the bigotry and discrimination that takes place, not only in this country but all around the world?

For her part, in her “apology”, Malu Fernandez addressed the emails responding to her article. However, the apology, was nothing more than another attempt to take a jab at Filipinos and to once again assert that she’s an elite that those in lower socioeconomic classes just fail to understand or comprehend her “wit”.

However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.

While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga sann ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?” Translation: “Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?” I though I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.

On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air.

All in all, it’s been a pretty good summer. Jetting from the Aegean Sea to the Pacific may sound a bit pretentious until you wake up in economy class smelling like air freshener.

Response By Marlu Fernandez

Understandably, The Manila Standard Today, received a few emails of complaint, so Malu Fernandez decided to respond.

As I type this, I’d like you to know that it’s not about whining, complaining and bitching but just stating the facts. Just recently, I wrote a funny article in my magazine column and my friends thought it was hilarious. It was humorous and quite tongue-in-cheek, or at least I thought so, until the magazine got a few e-mails from people who didn’t get the meaning of my acerbic wit. The bottom line was just that I had offended the reader’s socioeconomic background. If any of these people actually read anything thicker then a magazine they would find it very funny. Most people don’t get the fact that they need bitches like me to shake up their world, otherwise their lives would be boring and mediocre. I obviously write for the a certain target audience and if what I write offends you, just stop reading.

Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabes. One group will never get the culture of the other. Although I could mention that it is easier to understand someone who has a lower socioeconomic background that would entail a whole other page and frankly I don’t want to be someone to bridge the gap between socioeconomic classes. I leave that to the politicians in my family who believe they can actually help. Now I seriously ask you, am I being a diva or are people around me just lacking in common sense? Perhaps it’s a little of both!

Response To The Response

First of all, there is nothing funny about bigotry, and tongue-in-cheek does not have to entail irresponsible and insensitive statements such as the statements made in her article.

Second, she mentions a few emails, but only mentions the offense of one reader’s socioeconomic background. Notice that reader’s is singular (is this an editing mistake, are there actual editors who edit this crap?). Or maybe, Malu meant that all the emails were complaints of readers having their socioeconomic background offended. But either way, the fact that Malu tries to deflect the actual complaint and goes on another rant in which she again lambastes lower social classes, making another strong statement that indeed she is an elite herself, is further proof of her worth as displayed by her perceived higher class status. In her illogical rant, she implicitly says that the poor have lost their reason to understand her discriminatory comments.

Let me make it clear, the offense is not based on a socioeconomic issue, the offense is based on her statements of bigotry, discrimination, and intolerance against her own countrymen. Politicians, I mean noteworthy and honorable politicians, certainly do believe that they can make a difference. Just because she feels that she can’t make a difference, doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. The fact that people are actually trying is much more noble, than playing aristocrat and hinting that The Philippines is a lost cause. Yes, I do believe, we can make a difference. And this means, calling out horrible individuals like Malu Fernandez.

I wonder if these acerbic statements will be too harsh for Malu’s diva reality?

Originally, she’s just writing her travel adventures - waaay overreacting. In the first place she should have research first before traveling. Secondly, she mentioned that her travel agent advised her to take the economy flight - she should have refused and take the business class. She should also be thankful that her Kababayan’s took the effort to put a little fragrance before boarding the plane rather than smelling so sweaty, ayt?

She also mentioned that the comments are hilarious and her friends thought it was humorous - yeah because they think and act like you. But for me it’s not funny….

You’re so lucky that you have all the things in the world. You should thank God and as thank you gift you should help our poor fellows. If I were her, she should have mingled and talk with the Kababayans, I don’t mind talking with them, probably, I can learn from them. And to think they don’t know you, ayt?

Ok ok, my father is an OFW. He works so hard to feed and pay for our tuitions. I won’t be blogging here if I did not finish college. Probably, I’m in the province, married and poor. Sigh! He sprays Axe deodorant when he’s home (it stings my nose but I don’t mind. I thought Axe would attract girls’ hehehehe). He likes CK from time to time.

I remember my first trip in Boracay. My mother, her sisters and my cousins who lives in the remote area in Antique were walking along the shoreline and one of my little cousins wanted some peanuts. At that time there is a peanut seller in front of Regency Hotel and we bought some peanuts. A girl, not so rich looking says – Yuck! bumibili sila ng mani in front of Regency Hotel (Yuck! They’re buying peanuts in front of Regency Hotel – you should hear the voice tone with intonations). I looked around to find some signs probably there’s a billboard saying No Vendors in front of the hotel or No buying peanuts in front of the hotel. There are no signs like that, so I raised my eyebrow and looked at her. Luckily my mother did not over hear it. That is an example of a social climber. They way she dresses probably she’s a whore (kabit ng dirty old foreigner) hehehe.

Check out some related blogs about this piggy piggy oink oink Malu Chuvaness. I hate super rich people…

Malu on Pinoy PC
Malu on Tingog
Malu’s Article
Mahaderang Matapobre