Swine Mentality: UPDATED

And I thought educated people have breeding, obviously I am wrong. For someone who writes a column, one should be sensitive not only with her choice of words but with the way she describes her (mis)adventures.

I could easily have let it be, but I am not someone who allows injustice or bigotry for that matter to simply pass. No, I never take anything sitting down. What is worst is when a Filipino, belittles her own countrymen.

I am appalled at how Manila Standard Today columnist, Malu Fernandez narrated her trip to Greece in People-Asia Magazine. Here are excerpts which really got me going ballistic.

"However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of 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 wrists at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them."

How I wish she had slashed her wrists right there and then. These OFWs work their asses to earn an honest living. They never asked nor begged from this uneducated columnist their daily keep. Were you molested by these OFWs in any way?

"While I was on the plane (where the seats were too 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 saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?" I thought I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell."

Filipinos are a very friendly race. They will not hesitate nor even be ashamed to greet another Filipino where ever they are. To them, we are all family. Even total strangers are wholeheartedly welcomed and received with open arms. And don't worry Malu, with your appalling attitude towards someone who comes from a lower socioeconomic class, Lucifer will be waiting for you in the afterlife.

"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 my Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."

Sorry to hear that your Jo Malone expensive as it may be, simply cannot overpower the scent of cheap cologne. Maybe next time, since you claim to be richer than most of us, take first class. If you truly are rich, cost is no problem, unless of course you are just pretending to be rich.

Here's the catch, the poor girl(?) had the temerity to reply to those who emailed their sentiments.

"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!"

The last thing we need are bitches who do not seem to understand what she is saying. Its no wonder why Malu responded in such a demeaning manner, she has politician relatives. Oh, and I never even knew you existed till I read the entries of several bloggers who if I may add belong to a better breed than where you came from. And by the way, your reply only confirms that you lack common sense.

At this day and age when the "TRULY" rich and famous are reaching out to the poor and bridging the gap across all classes, Malu seems to have been left behind wilting away on her perch. She has a very distorted view of what humanity is all about. Bigots have no place in a changing society.

The OFWs whom she unjustly mocked are the backbone of our improving economy. Their remittances continue to prop up our economy. They are the driving force in our consumer driven market. Yes, they are the investors whose money is heavily investing in our businesses. Mind you, the day will come when you will end up along side these people you belittle. And then you will find yourself alone, with your friends who think your column is hilarious. I'm sure your politician relatives are the reason why there is so much poverty in this country. If you think the Philippines stinks, then get out. Maybe you even purposely wrote this article in this manner to be controversial. How sad, it just shows how low you will stoop just to (in)famous.

The meek shall inherit the world and you better join the bandwagon lest you end up in hell.

Care to read the entire column, you can read it HERE and HERE. And THIS is her reply to the emails her paper got.

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