OSW Offended and Hurt by Shocking Slur


Filipina domestic workers in Honk Kong

Slur vs Hong Kong Pinays sparks outrage

By Delon Porcalla
Updated March 29, 2009 12:00 AM

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A screenshot of the website of HK Magazine that sparked outrage among Filipinos for reportedly calling the Philippines a 'nation of servants.'

MANILA, Philippines - A congresswoman yesterday called on a Hong Kong magazine to apologize to the Philippine government for offensive and defamatory comments on Filipinos in an article on the country’s claim over the Spratly islands which China also claims.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros voiced strong protest over the article of Chinese writer Chip Tsao published in the HK Magazine of the Asia City Publishing Group, where he called the Philippines a “nation of servants.”

In his article, Tsao protested the Philippine claim over the Spratlys, urging his compatriots not to bow to the Philippines because 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,” Tsao said in his article.

He also mentioned that he employs a Filipina domestic helper named Louisa and warned her that should a war erupt, “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,” Tsao added.

“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,” Tsao wrote.

The Chinese writer likewise said the Philippines should stop threatening China.

“The Philippines may have a 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 portrait (sic) of our Great leader during the Cultural Revolution,” Tsang said in his article.

Hontiveros took strong offense at this and said the magazine should apologize immediately.

“This disgusting, derogatory, and vile remark can only come from dim-witted and mediocre writing. The magazine should apologize straightaway. The article reflects the kind of attitude that promotes abuses against Filipina workers,” Hontiveros said.

She said Tsao’s story should not have been published, owing to its defamatory nature characterized by racial discrimination against Filipinos in general, and domestic helpers in particular.

“Chip Tsao should find another profession. He should leave the Spratlys issue to the diplomats and writing to real writers because clearly he has neither competence nor talent in foreign affairs and in writing,” Hontiveros added.

“When you make fun of a particular group, you expose them to abuses. Wittingly or unwittingly, you end up supporting acts of intolerance and abuses,” she added.

“Filipina domestic workers should hold a one-day strike to tell the likes of Chip Tsao who’s the real master of the HK economy. If all Filipino workers in HK would strike, the HK economy would grind to a halt without us having to invade the territory,” she said.

She said Filipinos are not asking for political correctness, just professional treatment.

“Domestic work is a decent job. It’s not just done by hired Filipina domestic workers, it has also been the function of mothers of all nationality, in Hong Kong and China and elsewhere. It should be treated with respect,” she said, adding that by insulting Filipina domestic workers Tsao has also insulted his own mother.

(click here for Original article here-hk-magazine.)

You MUST read Kitty Go's take on this at Victorina.

Her article is fantastic!(link is on blog left)


Domestic workers gather on Sunday to swap stories and catch up with friends

Bry Shane thinks all Filipino OSW (all domestic workers) are amazing and keep the country afloat! Racism SUCKS!

Ariel John at 9:56am March 30
yeah!
James Tecson at 9:56am March 30
ows..!
Jordan Quiday Peralta at 9:56am March 30
i agree!!!
thanks anyway!
Lyndon Dy at 9:59am March 30
What does OSW stand for?
Patrick Jay Largoza at 10:00am March 30
that chip tsao dude is sick!
Junji Callosa at 10:02am March 30
Racism doesn't have any place in the world today... Thanks Bry for thinking that way too... :)
Lyndon Dy at 10:03am March 30
I'm beginning to think the article is a parody or a satire. It's unimaginable that such bigot exists.
Juan Miguel Rodriguez at 10:10am March 30
maybe he (the author/writer) is just frustrated because the last cathay pacific bound for vancouver bumped him off hence cannot leave HK during the handover circa 1997 hence have to contend himself with living with Filipina/Filipino servants more intelligent than him.
Chris Joey Simon at 10:13am March 30
what an asshole!
Lung Tsang at 10:15am March 30
nope, this dickhead thinks he be kinda chinese version of victorian gentlemen, he earns his living mainly by talk shows and newspaper column, however, he only good at citing phrases from literature and fake it into a real socio-political commentator. whats pathetic is that many local people love him and regard him as a model of local gentry. i ... Read Moredislike him as he sucks, talks without contents, and bcos he is rich, not understand what it means by poverty and suffering. i feel ashamed having him as one of the chinese people!!! its good chance of people seeing his real faces, he just does whatever for money, not for righteous or anything out of kindhearts
Lyndon Dy at 10:19am March 30
Oh, he's a celebrity back home! Is this particular column of his making the headlines in HK?
Issac Junior Belen Derregusbi at 10:21am March 30
well that comment came from??
Juan Miguel Rodriguez at 10:27am March 30
Lung, no need to be apologetic, obviously his (the writer/author in question) feet doesnt touch the ground.. i'll laugh the day it does.

oh ..he's a victorian gentleman you say? I guess he flunked sino-english history or has encountered selective amnesia - the opium war and how HK became the possession of the british circa 1800s - his ancestors scoffing the idea of being under the british rule which he emulates so proudly now.

In afterthought, I really pity the guy now.... Read More

My hats off to that filipina DH under his employ, she ought to teach her master history 101 (for the lack therof)
Apollo Andrew Go Velasco at 10:37am March 30
hollah!!!

xoxo
Lung Tsang at 10:37am March 30
nope, i meant he thought himself being a gentleman, indeed not, he is not famous, just use extreme talk show to attract supporters [mostly general public who can be mislead easily by some extreme saying] so that he can continue his colums and talk shows from his employers. after reading the blog from Bry here, this article was his deliberate ... Read Moreattempt to kiss the ass of the authority in BJ, maybe he has difficulties in securing some vested interest. so by kissing the ass, you will be given some new or lost interest etc not sure yet, but so ass kissing of him
Lyndon Dy at 10:39am March 30
What is BJ?
Lung Tsang at 10:40am March 30
beijing
Lee Montefrio at 10:40am March 30
all i can say about that journalist is...."HE SUCKS!!!!!!"
Melissa Mae at 10:45am March 30
He does not deserve to be called a journalist. Pathetic, arrogant prick.
Ana Moring Busch at 10:47am March 30
name says itself- Cheap!!!
Lung Tsang at 10:48am March 30
HK Magazine id s freebie giveout once a week here, it has years of history however, media technology and the screwing contents of HKMagazine has kicked away all the readers, so maybe thats why 2 desperate people or obkects went together and .. clicked lol
Lung Tsang at 10:50am March 30
he is just a moron just screws up everything in order to satify his own ego
Lyndon Dy at 10:52am March 30
Lung, you seem to be very aware of this issue. Has this particular column been talked about by your local media?
Lee Montefrio at 10:58am March 30
OSW means Over Seas Workers... you know what guys,im really mad when i've seen that news in television.even every country leaders doesn't have the right to say something bad to other countries.if he go here in the Philippines,i think because of what he had said,he can never go back alive in his country!hahahahahaha funny but i guess its true =)
Juan Miguel Rodriguez at 10:58am March 30
lung .. what's the reaction locally in HK regarding this ... writer?
Lung Tsang at 11:08am March 30
honestly i dont seem to get this news from local media today, 1st time to read this from Bry's blog link, also i didnt read the recent issue of that magazine. but Tsao is not alone here, there are a few so called self acclaimed gentry men like him, who dominated the local media as commentators etc ... so sad ...
Miles De Guzman at 1:14pm March 30
What's wrong with keeping house? It's a hard-earned job! Cleaning is very rewarding! and cooking and many other domesticated work. Just look at him even with his tie, jacket and eye-glasses to make him look smart, it doesn't help! He stinks! He's the TRASH that needs to be cleaned! Or burned perhaps?
Lee Montefrio at 1:17pm March 30
nice attack miles de guzman :-) kudos for that!
Bry Shane at 1:18pm March 30
I agree Miles. It's crazy. Salt of the earth. All of them.
Miles De Guzman at 1:30pm March 30
Are there no mirrors in his house? Poor guy...Holy week is coming...are you thinking what i'm thinking?
Miles De Guzman at 1:33pm March 30
And HATS OFF to you Bry!
Lee Montefrio at 1:35pm March 30
crucified him...? lol
Miles De Guzman at 1:38pm March 30
YEAH!!! or send him to Dr. Hannibal!