THE NATION OF SERVANTS

Posted by e-souled under ABS_CBN, Chip Tsao, F. Sionil Jose, Filipino, hong kong,news, OFW, Philippine Government, Philippines

The Chinese journalist, Chip Tsao, is coming under sharp criticism from Filipinos in the blogosphere and from two female lawmakers and a labor policy center have joined calls in demanding a public apology over a recent article“The War At Home” that made a racial slur against Filipinos in relation to the dispute over the Spratly islands.

Here’s the article:

“The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. 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 belongs to China.
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 for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.”

Sen. Pia Cayetano said Filipinos "deserve no less than a formal public apology" 
“HK Magazine and Tsao must apologize for insulting Filipinos, and they should pledge not to commit this mistake again," she said.

"Our being a poor nation does not diminish the validity of our historical and legal claim to the Spratlys. In the proper forum, this dispute will eventually be threshed out and resolved. Ignorance, hatred and racial bias are the last things we need in approaching this long-standing controversy," she added.

Cayetano also said that the Philippine claim to the Spratlys "is as valid as the other claims being pushed by other nations. It does not mean that we're disregarding the claims of others. We respect their claim inasmuch as they should acknowledge ours." 

She was quoted as saying.

"We should be proud that millions of OFWs are able to serve the world, whether as managers, laborers, caregivers or medical professionals. There's nothing to be ashamed of as long as we're earning an honest living without having to step on the dignity of others," she added.

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople meanwhile also denounced Tsao, “His published declaration that he gave her Filipino maid a harsh lecture and warned her to tell every one of her compatriots that Spartly Islands belong to China or she'd lose her wages, is already a sign of an unstable, irresponsible and racist employer who resorts to verbal abuse even for perceived bilateral and historic infractions." said Ople. 

I should be posting/blogging about lives of anyone, as I said in my profile, but for now, let me just use the time to give you a little more background about the place where I live in. I will start on featuring people's live in two weeks time. As for now please enjoy the scenes and the pictures about Bogo City. 

This pictures here I entitled "Balsa" is a floating material which fishermen in Bogo City use to place some things like food or tools for fishing. The term Balsa is a widely known term of a floating material in the Visayas region to either transport people or things by sea or river. I showed this picture to some of my friends here in Bogo City. They said they didn't notice that there's such thing at the wharf. After I explained to them what this thing really is, they couldn't believe it, because when they see this floating they only see a dirty small floating thing.  Taken with the sunrise and relaxed seas of Bogo City. 

This is an early morning scene in the "Plaza" (Park).  Bogo City has been a hall of fame for winning 4 time as the Cleanest and the Greenest Town in the Philippines. The round circle in the middle was actually a "skating rink". I learned skating there when I was like 7 years old. Now, it's been used as a common ground for school activities or local activities. This one is just a part of the whole park. The park isn't that big, but it's good enough to have you relaxed if you need some fresh air. 

Here is another part of the Park which I like the most. I watch a lot of Romantic Movies and some other movies. This picture above looks like a scene in some movies where lovers get to walk and talk(lol).  Well, anyway, I walk here like almost every morning when there's no basketball game. Whenever I get myself to walk here I get to feel the cool wind and the warmth of the sun. I call this picture "Nature's Corridor". 

I'm not so sure, but I think this road "St. Vincent's Road" (San Vicente st.) is the oldest street in Bogo City. This is a long straight that leads to St. Vincent Church and the other way leads to the wharf. If you take a closer look it shows the church tower in the far end. I can still remember how young I was when I used to walk here with my Grandfather. Oh my God! I just realized I missed my Grandpa so much now. Whew! 

This is how we cook our "Chorizo".  Even though Bogo City has been modernized. I still notice dirty kitchens in every house around. Ask any old people that lives in Bogo City; The best rice is when it's cooked from a firewood.  This dirty kitchen here is located at the far end inside the house. This is where my Grandma, THE BEST COOK, used to cook. I learned how to cook and prepare food in Bogo City, back when it was still a town. 

Here's another pic of our Dirty Kitchen at home in Bogo City. "kalan"  I don't have the enlgish definition of this but it's where we put our cooking stuff like this kettle on top to cook or boil water.  

You see, these things have been around me for quite some time, but never have I thought that these simple things are actually an amazing picture to capture. In this fast paced life we should take some time to stop and take a closer look at things. You'll see that these beauty is one of the blessings that we already have in hand. 

There's more pictures coming. I'll be posting about people's lives starting the week right after next. Keep posted and Thank you for dropping by. 

After I had a very bad experience with a break-up in Cebu City. I ran to where my hometown was. I'm now in the far north of the Island of Cebu, Bogo City. I spent most of my time in Cebu City. It's where I finished my studies and it's where I worked. I never gave any thoughts that Bogo City, where I was born, is actually a good place to live in. With the Coastal areas on the other side and the the GREENS, as what I call it, on the other. I've been here since late April last year, 2008. If it wasn't for the break-up I wouldn't have discovered that to where I came from, SIMPLICITY is such an amazing thing to caputure. 

I stopped for awhile one day and I noticed something. Take a look at the pictures. It's as breathtaking as the scenes you see everyday in advertisement. I never thought I'd get these shots without even paying for a big cash to travel.

 

Here is a picture taken early morning in Bogo City at the wharf area. You see there are lovers who waits to see the beauty of the sunrise. I was there to take a witness how the golden rays of the sun slowly touched and warmed my heart. 

By the way, all the pictures here are not edited nor enhanced by any programs. These are undedited pics taken at the wharf of Bogo City during sunrise. As you can see this one shows the native ways of living of the Bogohanons, Fishing. I saw them preparing and had to wait for them to start hitting the oar. Picturesque! isn't it? 

I saw this one docking, tied at the wharf. So I gave it a good shot. This is still at the wharf of Bogo City. 

 This is my first time putting on a blog. I find it fun. Please stay posted for some more pictures of my hometown in the near future. I'll be posting more pictures and stuff about Bogo City. 

Thank you for taking some time. Until next time!