Key Statements In Malu Fernandez’s People Asia Article

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 Malu 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?

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Tangnamo. Bwakanangpakshet ka. Gago. Naglaslas ka na nga lang sana. (Sabi ko sa inyo e!)

Kung talagang may pinag-aralan ka, humingi ka man lang sana ng paumanhin. Yun lang naman e. Hindi ba yun itinuro sa kung saang Kumikinang na Unibersidad ka man nanggaling? Hindi na namin hinihinging sunugin lahat ng naimprentang kopya ng ginawa mo. Alam naman naming mabaho kami. Alam naman naming maingay kami. Alam naman naming minsan, lumalampas kami. Wala ka nang magagawa dun. At mas lalong wala kang naitutulong. Pinoy ka rin di'ba? Mabantot ka rin. Maingay ka rin. Sigurado ako, sabik ka rin sa pamilya mo kung nagtrabaho ka sa malayo at gusto mo na ulit silang makasama (maliban na lang kung cloned ka lang sa kung anong uri ng hayop).

Limang letra lang para sa mga OFW's: S-O-R-R-Y.

At kung talagang trabaho mo nga ang mangutya ng mangutya, gawan mo ng article ang sarili mo. Pramis, 200 years mabubuhay ang column mo dahil sa dami ng makikita mong imperfections. Gusto mo, simulan ko?