MERGED: Manila Standard's Malu Fernandez unpleasant article of OFW's

[yokam]

---

Yes, I agree what she wrote was very negative but it is her opinion and we should just stop reading if we're too offended.

We just can't sit down and let it all pass and act passively after reading such a degrading article. No one or nothing can open her eyes up with what she's doing.

If we voice out and react negatively, we are just being like Malu in her article, and if we want change let us not be like her, instead respect her and prove her wrong about her article should she be--in a decent and peaceful manner.

People act and react differently. Some are too sensitive, some are too aggressive and some are just calm ones, we can't tell them to act this way or that way since other people think and feel differently from others. The bottom line, the message was clearly sent and Malu Fernandez accepted her fault, I guess that's just enough for the damage and hurt she's caused to a lot of people.

[ryan22]

update guys from inquirer.net

Journalist hounded out of paper for 'insulting' maids
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 07:15pm (Mla time) 08/24/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A lifestyle writer has been hounded out of her job by death threats and hate mail after she wrote a travel piece many readers found insulting to millions of Filipinos who work abroad.

Malu Fernandez told Agence France-Presse she quit her job as a columnist at the Manila Standard Today newspaper and People Asia magazine after her article "From Boracay to Greece!" provoked international outrage.

The travel piece, which appeared in the June edition of the magazine and later in modified form in the newspaper, recounts her mock horror at finding herself in economy class surrounded by Filipino maids reeking of cheap cologne.

"I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them," she wrote.

The column drew fire from across the universe of online diaries who denounced her for alleged bigotry.

Eight million Filipinos, including maids, seamen, construction workers and professionals, work abroad and sent a record seven billion dollars back to the Philippines in the six months of 2007.

Fernandez at first tried to deflect criticism of her article, saying in a subsequent newspaper column that it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek humor.

"If any of these people actually read anything thicker than a magazine they would find it very funny," she wrote.

"Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabees. One group will never get the culture of the other."

However, Fernandez said she has since become the "target of death threats, hate blogs, and deeply personal insults" and felt the need to apologize and quit. The Manila Standard Today confirmed that Fernandez no longer wrote for the paper.

"To say that this article was not meant to malign, hurt or express prejudice against the (overseas Filipino workers) now sounds hollow after reading through all the blogs from Filipinos all over the world.

"I am deeply apologetic for my insensitivity and the offensive manner in which this article was written," she said in her personal website.

She stressed it was never her intention to "malign, hurt or express prejudice" against the group.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=84544

[mango]

All I can say is - she was asking for it - MERESI !!!!!!!!

[omad]

"some things are better left unsaid"

and this is one very good example....

I actually share Malu's sentiments and observations with regards to my fellow OFW's... but what sets me apart from her is that:

I just keep it to myself and let them be.

sharing the same experience with close friends would have been ok. writing a blog about it may create a stir but actually writing it on a travel piece on a magazine for everybody's consumption is a little bit way out of line.

BUT printing the same piece on the newspaper is just really asking for it.

the blogs from that dude who describes Pinoys as "orcs" and the othe Fil-Am who calls Pinoys "flips" for me are more offensive than Malu Fernandez' article but writing for Manila Standard and People Asia should have been reason enough to be a little more tactful and responsible.

[vanceloma2nd]

I just found this among the many blogpages over the net

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/941...ezspoofze7.jpg

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/318...zspoof2cd0.jpg

LOLZ

[FK]

as to what she have said... mura tinuod bya... dili ingon nga tinuod iya gi-sulti... but tinuod nga ga binoang ra siya... mura siya ga act as someone. well we can't deny nga daghan sab jud pinoy pareho og kina-iya sa naa sa iyang article.

[grss1982]

You know eveyone. I think she wrote this article to be controversial.

You know in this day in age CONTROVERSIAL=FREE PUBLICITY. Think about it right now Malu's article could be registering thousands of hits, which was what she wanted all along, IMHO.

[diatabz]

I find it sad that she cant fit in the economy seats... It's a perfect example of someone who excels at writing bitter diatribes... Lonely porker...

[grss1982]

update guys from inquirer.net

Journalist hounded out of paper for 'insulting' maids
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 07:15pm (Mla time) 08/24/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A lifestyle writer has been hounded out of her job by death threats and hate mail after she wrote a travel piece many readers found insulting to millions of Filipinos who work abroad.

Malu Fernandez told Agence France-Presse she quit her job as a columnist at the Manila Standard Today newspaper and People Asia magazine after her article "From Boracay to Greece!" provoked international outrage.

The travel piece, which appeared in the June edition of the magazine and later in modified form in the newspaper, recounts her mock horror at finding herself in economy class surrounded by Filipino maids reeking of cheap cologne.

"I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them," she wrote.

The column drew fire from across the universe of online diaries who denounced her for alleged bigotry.

Eight million Filipinos, including maids, seamen, construction workers and professionals, work abroad and sent a record seven billion dollars back to the Philippines in the six months of 2007.

Fernandez at first tried to deflect criticism of her article, saying in a subsequent newspaper column that it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek humor.

"If any of these people actually read anything thicker than a magazine they would find it very funny," she wrote.

"Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabees. One group will never get the culture of the other."

However, Fernandez said she has since become the "target of death threats, hate blogs, and deeply personal insults" and felt the need to apologize and quit. The Manila Standard Today confirmed that Fernandez no longer wrote for the paper.

"To say that this article was not meant to malign, hurt or express prejudice against the (overseas Filipino workers) now sounds hollow after reading through all the blogs from Filipinos all over the world.

"I am deeply apologetic for my insensitivity and the offensive manner in which this article was written," she said in her personal website.

She stressed it was never her intention to "malign, hurt or express prejudice" against the group.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=84544

news.google.com revealed these stories:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topoftheh...?StoryId=89652

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&sect...tegory=Kingdom

[r0mm3L]

Last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said OFWs sent a total of US$12.6 billion in remittances to their families in the Philippines.

she may continue her articles about OFWs