As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.”
Who said this? not Hitler, nor Stalin, nor Idi Amin. It would have been better if it came from one of these infamous world leaders then it would had been understandable.
Ironically it came from a despicable species of a journalist named Chip Tsao who wrote an article on HK Magazine Online maligning the dignity of Filipinos as a whole.
Chip Tsao Of HK Magazine Online
He further states: ” I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belong to China.”
So, this is about the Spratlys.
Why the hell then in the name Mao Zedong would he resort to such a blatant display of arrogance and mouth personal insults to a people whom as far as I know is a member of the human race and deserves respect whatever their jobs or status in life maybe.
“Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason or sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean windows 16 hours a day.” He continues.
Sixteen hours a day. That is for a meager salary of HK$3,580 a month, more or less US$470.
I have heard of stories about Hongkong employers’ abuse of their “servants”. This is clearly an admission. I bet he is very happy he could get that high quality labor which the Filipinos are known for, for a pittance.
Not all OFWs are maids in Hongkong. There are a lot of OFW engineers, architects, computer programmers, technicians and analysts in the Middle East… doctors, nurses, caregivers in the United States and Great Britain, and other professions as well, in the other parts of the world.
Sad but true, we are a nation producing highly educated and hard working individuals who then work abroad, their enormous talents and steadfast dedication to work benefiting the
economies of other countries.
It may well be said that we are fairly limited and under privileged as a nation. The second World War left us in ruins. Our leaders faced the enormous task of reconstructing our country from rubble.
Our political history was full of chaos… marked by power-grabbing politicos, people’s uprisings both from the left and the right factions, guerilla wars, muslim wars, and military coup attempts… our economy had suffered a stagnant growth.
When it is quiet in the political front, we would be struck by natural disasters. Volcano eruptions, earthquakes, succession of typhoons, floods and when it dries we had drought.. u name it, we have it.
This is the main reason why we have OFWs. No other country has that. No other country had suffered as much as we had. But despite all these, we are a people who chose not to be beaten.
Despair is not an answer. Neither is resignation. We cannot change the past, we cannot change the facts, we cannot change what is inevitable, but we can be in charge of what we have, we have talents and education.. we would use them. We can do menial labor, we will… because nothing is wrong with that.
We are unfortunate that we lie in the earthquake belt in the middle of the pacific ocean where typhoons and natural disasters are normal occurrences. We are double unfortunate where our government and political leadership are concerned.
Are we asking for pity? No.
We only want fair treatment and what honest working human beings deserve.
We are not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of those who consider themselves as our masters.
We deserve the full menu of respect of our dignity and worth as a part of humanity.
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Note:
Just recently an apology by HK magazine online was issued due to a wave of angry reactions from Filipinos all over the world and the Philippine government itself. The original article War At Home had been deleted from their website. However the apology (which implied that the post made by Chip Tsao was a satire and was misinterpreted by some readers) came from the magazine not from the author of the article itself.
Related Articles:
Race Row Escalates Over Magazine That Called Philippines “Slaves”
Filipinos March in Hongkong Over Nation of Servants
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May I remind Mr. Chip Tsao that the concept of going to a foreign land to do manual labor is not exactly a foreign concept to the Chinese. Look back in your own history Mr. Tsao and you’d find significant movement of your own people going to the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere in search of a better life.
I’m bringing this up not because there’s a stigma attached to working your ass off for foreign masters. It’s not. It’s just the way things are – man’s indomitable will to rise above the gutter so he can have a better way of life.
That’s not so bad, Mr. Chip Tsao.
What’s bad is that we have to take it from you and an Asian brother at that. Loosen up, Mr. Tsao, scoffing at the aspirations of those who have less in life does not make you a better man.
You’re one insufferable racist, and quite frankly, a blight on the proud Chinese people.
You can take up the whole of Spratlys and shove it where the sun never shines. I don’t care.
bravo! jan.. bravo! wala ako masabi.. u hit the nail right in the head! =D>
I totally agree. I don’t think there would be a “Chinatown” in most cities in the world if it wasn’t because of those Chinese immigrants looking for a better life. California, Manila, Amsterdam… Chinatown is everywhere. I even met a Chinese couple in Knysna, South Africa selling clothes and souvenirs.
In the news, hundreds of illegal Chinese immigrants hiding in ship containers for days, barely surviving and some found by customs living with dead immigrants in the same containers in different ports of Europe very very sick. All seeking a better life in Europe risking their lives and doing whatever it takes to get out of China. In Paris, Chinese immigrants who passed customs unnoticed end up begging in streets or staying with gay Frenchmen in return for a resident permit.
I agree. Mr. Chip Tsao has to look back at China’s own history first before he writes another article about Philippines.
Not to mention Chi the Chinatown in the Philippines as well. Yes the Chinese found refuge also in the Philippines, they should be grateful we accomodated them.
Chinese are only brave when they are on their side. To tell you the truth, the chinese here in the Philippines are afraid to speak and to show emotions, they suck when they are facing their enemy, they fight behind their mothers.
That is below the belt.
However, I implore Pinoys to practice sobriety amidst such insults. As we know and but obvious we may throw equally insulting words and factual stories to Mr. Chip Tsao that may merely ignite irreversible diplomatic consequences between our countries. But if we compose ourselves as a nation, seen as united with dignity, pride and emanating education, whichever nation tries insulting us again will simply and immediately realize the shame that automatically results.
Have a prosperous day and God bless.
What an obnoxious little prick this Chip Tsao (sounds like Cheap Chow) is! And he claims he is a journalist? To me, his article sounds like it’s coming from an ignorant, detestable, racist being who had nothing better to do with his time than sow seeds of hatred and bigotry. He is lucky to have a well-educated Filipino domestic helper who is most probably more intelligent than him. Let him be reminded that making Louisa work for 16 hours a day with that meagre salary is a perfect example of employer abuse and unfair labour practice. He has just implicated himself once more.
I don’t get his sarcasm at all. Case in point – responsible journalism, i.e. conduct a thorough research on the topic before even writing about it; and review the article before publishing it to ensure it is within professional and ethical bounds. Mr. Tsao needs to get educated badly.
Respect begets respect. Love to all the Filipinos!!
hi jenny,
you said it all in one piece and eloquently at that! i know this article can evoke much hatred for Chip Tsao, but what has to be said has to be said. thank you for stopping by.