Malu Fernandez resigns from People Asia and Manila Standard Today
Posted by: iostream @ 2:13 am in: Issues (5,228 views) August 24th, 2007The former columnist of The Manila Standard Today, Malu Fernandez who has caught the attention of Filipino bloggers after she wrote an article in People Asia Magazine entitled “From Boracay to Greece” has now given her public apology and has resigned from the Manila-based newspaper and magazine she was writing for.
Despite her public apology and formal resignation, there are still some groups and sectors of the society who plans to file formal complaints against her.
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52 Responses to “Malu Fernandez resigns from People Asia and Manila Standard Today”
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August 24th, 2007 at 3:21 am
You just offended the feelings of OFW,to apologize to them is not enough.Now better liveand accept with this criticism in your entire life.
Pinoy is one for all and all for one.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:18 am
ustong sumikat ng babaeng baklang ito kaya kahit sa masamang paraan isinulat niya at kinalaban pa kaming mga oFW. Nagkamali ka ng kinalaban.Hindi ka yata tinuruan ng iyong mga magulang ng magandang asal kaya asal baboy ka kagaya ng pagmumukha mo. maraming galit sa iyo at dahilan diyan segurado ko mamalasin ka sa buhay sampo ng iyong mga kamag-anak. Sa halip na humingi ka kaagad ng patawad sa aming mga OFW ginalit mo pa kaming lalo kaya yong apology mo hindi acceptable at hindi sincere. Mapapatawad ka lamang naming mga oFW kung ikaww mismo ay magiging isang domestic helper at magtrabaho dito sa Middle East para maranasan mo ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga kababayan mo para makapagpadala lamang ng pera dyan sa Pilipinas. Brutal kang magsalita at masahol ka pa sa walang pinag-aralan. Masama ang budhi mo at ginagamit mo ang mga pahayagan para manlait ng iyong kapwa Pilipino. Isang kang mabahong isda na tinutukoy ni Rizal.Yang gimnawa mong yan ay magiging parusa sa iyong lahi hanggang sa iyong kaapoapuhan maniwala ka. Huli na ang pagsisis mo sinira mo ang aming dignidad na mga OFW na siyang tumutulong para di bumagsaka ang ekonomiya ng bansa. To hell with you!!!
August 24th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I would also like to demand firing the Editor-in-chief (idi*t-or-in-chief). Didn’t he pre-read the article before publishing it? He is either of like-mind with Ms Piggy, couldn’t care less, an idi*t, inept or sherking responsibility. In any case, he/she should be fired too!
August 24th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Hmmmnn… With the money she saved from flying economy class, her camp has probably hired a publicist or a better writer to do (albeit quite late) some damage control. However, a few observations:
“It was truly not my intention to malign hurt or express prejudice against OFWs.”
DUH! Makes you wonder when or what triggered her epiphany? She should have explained further, that would’ve showed more remorse. Like “For the sake of my accessories, I’ll apologize.”
And speaking of remorse, has she really got any? She fires back with:
“It is my fervent hope that the lessons that Ive learned are not lost on all those who through anonymous blogs, engaged in bigotry, discrimination, and hatred ( against overweight individuals , for example )”
(So hold on to your extra cash before you pay your spin-doctors a bonus!)
Now this sounds more like her! Firing a right-back-at-you “morality” statement to those who have apparently maligned (& finally affected) her bec. of thier anger. It was a “woe-is-me” and you’re all still “sh*te” in my eyes statement. An appeal would have been better. Suggest a re-phrase (and a discount from your reps.)
Most observe it as a cop-out. As fake as her bitter personality.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and my friends and family have nothing to do with this.”
(Awww where’s the fierceness we all love?) Great, sounds noble enough! Face the charges you b*atch! (Hey that’s what she calls herself, right?)
August 24th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
True irony….Mary Ann Bob engages in random bigotry by slamming her as she mentions random bigotry.
Let me ask you…are you all just sulking in corners with hurt feelings?
Then I ask this, did Fernandez lie?, Really, were her words a LIE? False? Overexaggerated? out of line?
no–they were not. Mostly because it was her opinion. We are all entitled to our opinions. Are you all saying she should not be allowed to express her opinion or are you saying that she flat out shouldnt be allowed to have those opinions?
I have flown thru Dubai over 20 times in the last 3 years and I can personally note that she is quite correct that Pinoys are boarding the Emirates planes, some of the most modern and comfortable coach flights in the world—-but on the flights coming here, (the PI), its like being back on a bus to the province. Everyone is bringing huge sacks of groceries and having clan meetings in the isles. Turning a nice quiet flight from Dubai to Manila into another annoying loud market scene.
So no, nothing she said was inaccurate….you are just upset that she pointed it out as if she was better than everyone.
But she didn’t lie.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Your a trying hard copy cat!!! heheheh dpat syo katayin!!! Wag ka papa kita skin bubugbugin ktang hayup ka!!!
August 24th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Please send her to jail!!!!
August 24th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
how could someone as fat as malu fernandez say those things to all our ofw, as if she’s not a filipino. who does she think she is, shes lyk a pig who dressed lyk a pig and acts lyk a pig, all that comes out from her mouth is full of mud and dirt. huh ugly malu
August 25th, 2007 at 1:09 am
well i think she has made her first article in bad taste. i think though she aims on readers of her same status, she made a wrong description to our OFWS (this definitely hits a nerve).
but her fatal mistake was to justify her actions in a very elitist manner. She calls herself elitist, but she talks worse than an uneducated hooligan with such. Such society will always have such people, but it’s a bad thing she showed such characteristics through media.
I’m glad the Manila Standard had its share of “fame” with this article.
August 25th, 2007 at 2:19 am
I don’t understand all these fracas…
Ms Fernandez is entitled to her opinion, after all the Philippines is still governed by the democratic rule, right?
As an OFW, I don’t mind being belittled by the likes of ms fernandez.
Di siya ang nagpapa-sweldo sa akin ng dolyares kaya F.A.I.C.!
For All I Care!!!
If this is how she gets her kick, then so be it.
Tama na ang pagiging balat sibuyas!
Sabi nga, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”!
August 25th, 2007 at 2:48 am
THE NERVE OF THAT MALU FERNANDES TO WRITE ABOUT US OFWS IN SUCH A MANNER. LISTEN WE OFWS PAY FOR YOUR F*CKING COUNTRY’S DEBTS!!! MAYBE SHE HASN’T REALISED THAT! YOU BELITTLE OFWS WHO CONTIRBUTE TO WHY YOU DONT SUCCUMB TO THE PITS OF HELL BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE. WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK OF HERSELF ANYWAY??? TALKING ABOUT HOW TRIP TO GREECE WAS MAGNIFICENT BUT ATE IN CHILLI’S (HOW CHEAP!!!) I COULD GIVE YOU ENOUGH MONEY TO DINE IN A REAL GREEK RESTAURANT. YOU SICKEN ME MALU FERNANDES. TRY WORKING IN OUR PLACE SO YOU’LL KNOW THAT WE ARE BETTER THAT YOU!!!
August 25th, 2007 at 3:53 am
@contractor: you’re right in saying that she’s just writing her opinion. but considering that she is a media personnel, she should be more cautious with what she’s writing. that’s what we call responsible journalism and that’s what she’s missing.
she should have consider the readers as well. and if she’s smart enough, she should know that majority of the readers would not like it. since she still chose to continue with her writing, she should have been ready for the reader’s reaction.
guess she’s not that smart enough..or maybe not that fierce enough…
August 25th, 2007 at 4:24 am
This is in response to Contractor’s comments. Nobody said that Malu lied with her opinions or overexxagerated. However, if your carefully read what she said about her legs not comfortably fitting the economy calls section.. that was not the fault of the aircraft. Didn’t it even occur to you that her legs are so huge that only a c-130 cargo plane can fit her elephant trunk legs?
Of course, Malu has every right to express her opinions. The people who are bashing her also have the same rights as her. I also wonder how she knew the smell of the cheap colognes she mentioned, when she proclaimed to be a fasionist and elista. She has also every right to complain about OFW’s bringing huge sack of groceries, and they chatter with each other on the plane.
You know what makes the likes of you and Malu stinks? You think you are so classy and above everybody else but in reality, you are just nothing but a vain, ignorant piece of human fecal.
The Malu bashers, including myself, has every right to our opinions as well, and we just happen to be in hundred thousands (if not millions) who feel insulted and hurt by her remarks. Although I consider myself an intellectualy snob (I despise idi*ts, superficial, ignorant, and turds like you and Malu), but I have never thought of my fellow filipinos in such a degrading manner.
You can have the best education, the best breed.. but you can also be an ignorant turd at the same time. I would say further that you’re nothing but an educated ignorant trash.
So why don’t you go be friends with Malu, and live in your little make believe world. You are just as pathetic as the ugly fat f*ck!
August 25th, 2007 at 5:19 am
*contractor and *proud OFW
are you guys friends of malu fernandez . . . birds of the same feather flock together . . . daan ka dito sa dubai then say those things to our face . . . let’s see
August 25th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I once experienced being in an airplane with the OFWs going home to our Motherland.I was touched when they exploded into a thunderous applause and cheers when it was announced that the plane was about to touchdown at the Manila tarmac. There were even those who couldn’t helped their tears. Those tears told everything –the years of being away from their families, the anticipation of seeing their loved ones again, the chance to take a rest and be away from their foreigner bosses. The material things that crowd the aisles are precious symbols of their love and hardwork. They hang on to them with the thought that it would bring enormous joy to their loved ones. (”Pag binigay ko to, tiyak matutuwa yun.” These are probably the words that they had in their minds.)
It is such a pity that Ms. Malu Fernandez and Contractor couldn’t understand beyond what their senses can tell them.
I’m an educator and I always remind my students that being “educated” and “schooled” are too different things. Ms. Fernandez must have gone to expensive schools, but such “education” does not seem to show. Sayang. I would feel very bad and disappointed if I were one of her teachers.
May this incident remind Ms. Fernandez and her friends that respect is for everyone to give and receive; and that the virtue of humility is for both the haves and have-nots.
May you eventually find peace in your heart.
August 25th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
magka HOG CHOLERA ka sana, tse! miss piggy
August 25th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
My friend in the states sent me Malu’s column. I have never read such arrogance coming from somebody who, after seeing her photo and reading her article, posseses the look that would insult a hippopotamus and make a dimwit an Eistein. If I was a woman, my toes would look heaps better than Malu’s face.
I am very proud of our OFWs, very hardworking and resilient people. Their self-sacrifice will put the Philippines’ politicians to shame and that includes Malu’s relatives, so she claims.
Malu is such a gargantuan wannabe. She reminds me of the obese losers in highschool and in Uni who always want to be seen hanging out with the cool people just so everybody, especially the boys, would notice them as part of the hottie. Of course, this always ended in futility. Nobody in their right mind would accept such losers.
Name dropping and brand naming are so not traits of people born with golden spoons; heck they would not even care if they get broke in a spending spree. There is no room at all in checking account balances. Malu please don’t tell the world you travel a lot, saying you just went to Greece in the economy class of a plane just proves where your finances can really take you. People who are used to travelling have enough miles to cover them for business class everytime they travel.
Piece of advise, please don’t wear white, it triples your already unfathomable size and your personality stains the purity of the fabric.
August 26th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
August 26th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
The editor-in-chief should be held accountable as well for allowing such irresponsible statements to get printed
August 27th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
to make the story short…. we should BOYCOTT PEOPLE ASIA MAGAZINE until it goes BANKRUPT. If only MAX SOLIVEN is alive today for sure this bit*** can not write her acticle.
August 27th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Got this from my uncle… with a reply below…
—-
Dear. Malu Fernandez
FIRST OF ALL, How nouveau riche can one get? Did you marry rich? Did you suddenly come in to money? Your blatant displays of your ‘luxuries’ and ‘wealth’ and your comfort with using the word ‘elitist’ to describe yourself alongside the fact that you had to reference to ‘politicians in your family’ show that even if you did come from money, you certainly have no class.
You also seem to need to name-drop in every article that you write.
It really gets to me that you should complain about the coach seats on your Emirates flight. Honey, they aint small… YOU’RE FAT. Spare yourself some doughnuts and maybe your travels will be more comfortable… coach, or not.
MOST IMPORTANTLY. That you would put down OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Workers) is really DISGUSTING. It makes you sound more vile than what you described as the scent of their ‘AXE and Charlie cologne’ while your ‘Jo Malone melted into thin air’. Honey, without that perfume, you want to know what you smell like? Like a fat Filipino woman. The smell is probably more putrid than the smell of those OFW’s. Cause they sweat honest, hard-working sweat. The kind of sweat that keeps the Filipino economy going. They’re f*cking brave. They’ve seen more than you, felt more than you, and fought more than you. You’re just a coddled fat Filipino woman, under all of that cologne, and that branded clothing that makes you feel more important than them.
It sounds to me like you get to fly Business Class when you travel for work, but when you had to pay for your own travels, coach was more affordable. You tried to hide this by grandiose references to you perfume and your designer wear, didn’t you? Tsk tsk…
You made some mention of having 17kg’s of make-up in your hand-carry. All the make-up and adornments in the world can’t hide how ugly you are inside. You aint that good-looking either, hon. Go to the gym, eat some fruits. You wrote that you wanted to slit your wrists because you were stuck in coach with all the OFW’s. I am MOVED every time I am on a flight with OFW’s. I am reminded of their resilience. Of how hard they work, and how they keep the Philippines going. The economy relies on their bravery. You should have slit your wrists, hon. And you are going to hell if you don’t change the way you think. Think of sitting in coach, imagining your personal hell as a personal foreshadowing.
I have lived in the Philippines , and I have also traveled the world. I’ve probably been to as many if not more places than you, seen more things than you, so maybe despite all of this money you seem to need to brandish and the places you have been to, you’re just an ignorant. This coming from a 20 year old girl.
You’re act isn’t classy. You’re not pretentious. You’re just some st*pid woman, living in a third world country, thinking that because you jetted off to Greece and you wear Jo Malone perfume, you are suddenly something.
Take this from someone with the same ’socio-economic background’ as you, b*tch. What a pitiful excuse.
I also happen to read things ‘thicker than magazines’, I go to University in London where I will finish with an Honors Bachelors Degree in May. I have a 1 year Marketing Economics degree from a business school in Oslo, and I graduated with an International Baccalaureate Diploma at age 17, if you were wondering. So no f*cking excuses.
You could do so much more than you think, yet you choose to act like a proper twat. The kind of twat that people with some brains laugh at, the world over. Think of this as some more exposure.
I am ashamed of people like you.
OFW’S all over the world, working their t*ts off, deserve a public apology.
Ingrid Holm
—-
August 28th, 2007 at 5:58 am
To Contractor: you’re right everyone has a right to their own opinion but did you and Ms Malu ever consider others (race) who has read the article? What does this show? That we Filipinos hate our own? that we despise each other?
And to you Proud OFW: are you really proud of yourself or you just used the alias to hide your true intensions…. I am no OFW but my Father was, and i will not tolerate such insults to the one person that I have always looked up to!!!!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:18 am
It took a while for this piece of news to reach my inbox in New York City, but wow — Malu Fernandez is exactly the kind of person that brings down all the Filipinos in the world; not just the OFWs, but even those who were born and raised abroad. Nakakahiya ka, Malu!
August 28th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
its sad to think that our fellow filipino itself is degrading her own countrymen. an attitude like her shouldn’t be given the freedom of speech. I hope our country has law enforcement against discrimination. I cant wait to see her in jail…
August 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Everything that Malu Fernandez says (bragging brands she uses, jetsetting etc.) just mean she’s not used to having these things/trips around thus, naming them one-by-one and belittling OFWs along her trip is just her way of covering her stupidity and her trying hard, really, really hard to be part of the elite group who wear these things/visit these places without even “giving it a d*mn”. Poor her, the whole universe knew how her brain is just a little over than a ground squirrel.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Pilipino ba yang matabang babaeng yan? pag nakita nyo yan sa kung saan ipakita nyo sa kanya kung saan sya nakalagay sa mundo. Laitin nyo kung gaano sya kataba, kapangit ng itsura at lalo na ng ugali. Wala syang karapatan na manghamak ng ibang tao kahit sya pa ang pinakamayaman sa mundo. Dapat sa kanya maranasan ang mag trabaho at maghirap sa ibang bansa.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Saang walang kwentang skwelahan ba nag aral yang malu na yan? di ba yan tinuruan ng kagandahang asal?
Isa pa yang editor in chief nila, di ko alam kung anong klaseng ethical standards ang pinapairal nila sa trabaho nila at hinayaan nya na maipublish ang walang kwentang article na yun.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Can you please pass this to, Malu’s editor: “Sir, bakit ninyo hinayaan na ma publish yung article? nasaan ang pgiging responsableng editor in chief nyo? We all know that yung sinulat nya is her opinion and she is entitled to it kahit na mali. Pero kayo sir malupit, kasi hinayaan nyo na ma publish yun. Di ka ba nahihiya? bakit wala kaming nababasa na public apology galing sa inyo? Hihintayin din namin ang inyong public apology at resignation.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Unfortunately for Malu Fernandez, she had written a politically incorrect and culturally insensitive article which generated millions of negative reactions. In fact, I for one am proud of the Pilipinos, if we believe that there is injustice done, we normally vervalize our feelings over it even to the highest office. Of course, if somebody has been to Greece or Paris or UK, etc., there is nothing to boast about. With people living in a global village, what is so important about them? (I have travelled a lot too and I passed by Dubai airport many times and I wasn’t bothered by the may Filipinos. In fact, when I needed help, they even helped me! But if you own one of the islands in Dubai (Map of the world), I salute you! but hey, still we don’t write derogatory thing about our fellowmen.
However, if you read Malu’s article once more, she did some revelation also about herself too, that her hand carried luggage is 17 kg! Don’t you think that’s kinda accepting she has those traits of us in general Filipinos.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t like what Malu said about our OFWs and I believe she had received enough condemnation and lessons in life. Let us leave her in peace now and may we forgive her.
Let us by the way focus on the bright side of the OFWs. This article has been circulating in the e-mail. So I want to share with you.
A Day Without Filipinos
Let’s imagine then, not just California, but the entire world, waking up one day to discover Filipinos have disappeared. I’m talking here about the six or seven million Filipinos currently working overseas in countries with names that run the entire alphabet, from Angola to Zimbabwe .
Let’s not worry first about why or how the Filipinos disappeared; in fact, it becomes academic whether it’s a day or a week. Just imagine a world without Filipinos.
Think of the homes that are dependent on Filipino housekeepers, nannies, caregivers. The homes would be chaotic as kids cry out for their nannies. Hong Kong and Singaporean and Taiwanese yuppie couples are now forced to stay home and realizing, goodness, there’s so much of housework that has to be handled and how demanding their kids can be and hey, what’s this strange language they’re babbling in?
It’s not just the children that are affected. The problems are even more serious with the elderly in homes and nursing institutions, because Filipino caregivers have provided so much of the critical services they need. When temporary contractual workers are brought in from among non-Filipinos, the elderly complain. They want their Filipino caregivers back because they have that special touch, that extra patience and willingness to stay an hour more when needed.
Hospitals, too, are adversely affected because so many of the disappeared Filipinos were physicians, nurses and other health professionals. All appointments for rehabilitation services, from children with speech problems to stroke survivors, are indefinitely postponed because of disappeared speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists!
Eventually, the hospital administrators announce they won’t take in any more patients unless the conditions are serious. Patients are told to follow their doctors’ written orders and, if they have questions, to seek advice on several Internet medical sites. But within two days, the hospitals are swamped with new complaints. The web sites aren’t working because of missing Filipino web designers and web site managers.
Service establishments throughout the world — restaurants, supermarkets, hotels — all close down because of their missing key staff involved in management and maintenance. In Asia , hotels complain about the missing bands and singers.
In the United States , many commercial establishments have to close shop, not just because of the missing Filipino sales staff but because their suppliers have all been sending in notices about delays in shipments. Yup, the shipping industry has gone into a crisis because of missing Filipino seafarers.
The shipping firms begin to look into the emergency recruitment of non-Filipino seafarers but then declare another crisis: They’re running out of supplies of oil for their ships because the Middle Eastern countries have come to a standstill without their Filipino workers, including quite a few working for the oil industry.
Frantic presidents and prime ministers call on the United Nations to convene a special session of the Security Council but Kofi Annan says he can’t do that because the UN system itself is on the edge, with so many of their secretarial and clerical staff, as well as translators, having disappeared from their main headquarters in New York and Geneva, as well as their regional offices throughout the world. Quite a number of UN services, especially refugee camps, are also in danger of closing down because of missing Filipino health professionals and teachers.
Annan also explains that he can’t convene UN meetings because the airports in New York , Washington and other major US cities have been shut down. The reason? The disappeared Filipinos included quite a few airport security personnel who used to check passengers and their baggage.
Annan calls on the World Bank and international private foundations for assistance but they’re crippled, too, because their Filipino consultants and staff are nowhere to be seen. Funds can’t be remitted and projects can’t run without the technical assistance provided for by Filipinos.
An exasperated Annan calls on religious leaders to pray, and pray hard. But when he phones the Pope, he is told the Catholic Church, too, is in crisis because the disappeared include the many Filipino priests and nuns in Rome who help run day-to-day activities, as well as missionaries in the front lines of remote posts, often the only ones providing basic social services.
As they converse, Annan and the Pope agree on one thing: the world has become a quieter place since the Filipinos disappeared. It isn’t just the silencing of work and office equipment formerly handled by Filipinos; no, it seems there’s much less laughter now that the Filipinos aren’t around, both the laughter of the Filipinos and those they served.
I know, I know, I’m exaggerating the contributions of Filipinos to the world but I’m doing what the producers of “A Day without Mexicans” had in mind: using a bit of hyperbole to shake people up.
As their blurb for the film goes: “How do you make the invisible, visible? Make them invisible.”
As I wrote this column, I did realize I was doing this not so much for the Hong Kong Chinese and Taiwanese and Singaporeans and Americans who don’t appreciate us enough, than for us, who as Filipinos, are pretty good at putting ourselves down, at making ourselves invisible.
Fr. Jess E. Briones, SVD
Superior
Delegatus Argentina
Oficina: Calle Mansilla 3865
Residencia: Calle Paraguay 3901 - Tel.: 4824-0270 ext 43
celular: (011) 15-5024-0751
August 28th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Sana ginamit ni Malu Fernandez ang utak niya bago niya sinulat ang article na yan, kasi, kahit saan syang sulok ng mundo pumunta, may Pilipino. Kahit saang Hotel siya tumira, kahit saang restaurant siya kumain at kahit saan siyang tindahang mamili, may Pilipino. Magmula ngayon mag-ingat siya kasi baka ang kakainin niya ay dinuraan muna bago iserve sa kanya.
I am sure her picture is implanted in every OFW’s mind, kaya wala siyang ligtas. I can’t imagine Crickette Tantoco having buddies like this “trying hard-wannabe”
August 29th, 2007 at 7:06 am
“the seats were so small, I had bruises on my legs”
Its because you are a fat pig. I can’t believe a spoiled, overweight, snob of a “Filipino” would slam her own countrymen. Those OFW are bringing money to their families and also helping the Philippine Economy do just a tiny bit better. Obviously, you snob pig rich folk would not know of working your ass off, in another country, to help better the lives of people. You just criticize good people that are SACRIFICING to do better. TO DO BETTER. While your fat ass gets to go to places people only wish they could afford or have a chance to visit. Pure Ignorance.
Contractor - Nobody is saying she lied. To put down people that have a harder life than herself, it’s very inconsiderate. Not everyone has the luxury to go places on a whim and choose any country in the world to visit. Next time, don’t save money and fly first class on a private plane. I would definitely punch you in the face if you came up to me with that snobby attitude. I seen that attitude my whole life here in the states, and when bad things happen to those people, I SMILE.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Malu,
I hope you have to live a hard life now. That hard life will take food away from you, so you will lose weight. If not that, I hope everywhere you go, people hate you for being arrogant, so you have to run out of markets.
And if the boat sinks, its because of your weight. You want to save your accessories.. how selfish, the overweight packages that OFWs bring back to the PI, are for families. Selfish pig.
You should also stay in the Philippines, secluded. Because if you come here to the States, I will consider you a OFW, overseas filipino worker or Overweight Filipino worker. I will post this article on alot of websites and I will even put it on myspace and friendster, in hopes of that people will curse you everywhere you go.
contractor - here’s my opinion. I hope the WORST for you and everything you hate about those flights.. I hope everytime you fly, it gets worse to the point you will only take a boat to be an OFW.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:08 am
HEY MALOU, YOU SAID YOU WANT TO “CUT YOUR WRIST AND HOPE GOD WILL SEND YOU TO YOUR OWN PRIVATE HELL” WHEN YOU’RE AROUND THESE “OFWs”, WELL? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? JUST DO IT!
I HOPE THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE YOU “PERSONA NON GRATA”
AND THE PUBLISHER OF PEOPLE ASIA ” WASHING HIS HANDS” ON THIS CONTROVERSY: CLOSE DOWN AND PACK UP AND DON’T STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES. YOU CAN’T JUST SAY MALOU FERNANDES HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY HER OPINION, SHE’S ONLY ONE AGAINST THE MILLIONS OF OFWs. ‘CARE TO SPARE A COLUMN FOR THEIR OWN OPINIONS TOO?
August 29th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Malu’s sharing of her experience could not be described as a lie. But I believe she should have stated it in a different manner unlike what she used in her column. Her article made her sound as if she was better than others or that her taste and class was of a superior level. There is always a more tactful way of saying things so as not to hurt or offend others.
TO RICK >> I agree that the editor should have foreseen the reaction people would have on such writing. Well, that is unless they share the same ‘class’…
August 29th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Bagay sa Malu Fernandez na to eh litsunin talaga..nakakaimbyerna!!! Wag ko talaga syang makakasabay sa eroplano at baka sa pyesta ng Lechon sa Balayan, Batangas ang bagsak nya…hehehehe
August 29th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
You are absolutely right Abby! Malu just wanted to share what she had experienced but grossly misinterpreted because the words are not chosen… and of course there is some “air” implying that she belong to a better class than OFWs. This is the issue. Let’s get real … she might have a better class for some OFWs but for some OFWs, they definitely have a better class than her. Now, remember some OFWs are professional and technical people who are paid heaps of money and have seen not just Greece and always travel on a business class, if not first class!
And even if Malu thinks she has a higher class than some of the OFWs, say the “domestic helpers”, do you know we should be proud of them! Why? I am working in an office where my officemates are from different parts of the world. At some point in time, some of them have employed a Filipina maid and they unanimously said that the Filipina maids are hardworking, reliable, humble, clean, good cook, do beyond their duties, etc.. and their children love them. In fact, I met some of them, who go anywhere where their employers go.
I wish where I am, I would be allowed to employ one of them and perhaps, life would be much better. But you know, most the Filipina maids are college graduate just like Malu, isn’t it?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
She hates the beach daw. Dapat lang. Ayoko namang makakita ng kagaya nya na naglalakad sa Boracay at nakasuot ng bikini. Mabuti na sana kung malinis ang kanyang puso at isipan, kaso hindi eh.
She also mentioned that she would rather stay in a temperature-controlled room of 18 degrees. I’m just wondering, wouldn’t it be bad for her kasi mag-sesebo lang ang mga taba nya sa katawan? Sana lumabas man lang sya at magpapawis para mabawasan ang taba nya at magkasya na sya sa upuan nya sa eroplano.
Napaka-immature ng pag-iisip nya.
Hey guys, I am not against overweight people, pero with people like her na sobrang taba na nga, eh ang itim pa ng budhi! Sana atleast eh nagpakumbaba na lang sya, gaganda pa sya paningin ng mga tao.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Man, if this is how rich people write their articles, they obviously give a new meaning to the word “burning money”.
Any idi*t who went to college should know the words professional journalism when applied on the written work. Malu’s tripe is something I can see in a blog, not in a magazine.
Shame on you, Malu, and the teachers who taught you writing 101.
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:59 am
My father was an OFW for 20 years starting in the mid 70s to mid 90s. In short his sacrifices provided a big economic cushion to our family. We were economically better that a lot of people and sometimes we wore designer clothes or shoes which we mildly displayed in arrogance of course. After so many years living in the United States I have different outlook now. I find that every job has some dignity in it from a gardener to an executive. I now also relishes going to department store looking for cheap clothes, sneakers, and jeans. Although I am relatively well paid but I now rather wear a $3 jeans than a $50 Levis brand. I still go to nice restaurants and eat but I look at the waitress as like me earning a decent living and I tip generously. I carry this same attitude in the Philippines when I ate in the restaurants.
While I love visiting the Philippines such that in the last five years it is every year, the scene of our kids trying hard to show their designer attires or expensive cell phones, and every other word is English or behaving like they are in some western countries really baffled me. I think we are breeding MALU FERNANDEZ in multitude. My fellow Filipinos, I was fortunate to travel around the world but there is no other place that kids behave like in the Philippines, granting there are pockets of that in other countries but not as prevalent as the Philippines. Majority of these countries I visited, the people are very nationalistic – they love their culture and they are able to separate their cultural identities with the economic boon. I cannot say for sure but these seem to be the norm in every sector of their society from rich to poor.
Maybe I am wrong and I am not generalizing either, there are some of us that think that if we mingle (not for political reason) with the working class folks – it is considered bakya, badoy and without class. Although I prefer to take Cathay Pacific than Philippine Airlines because of the services and great food but the big part is that years ago I found the PAL flight crew are masungit and acted like they are better than the folks in the coach class (sounds familiar) whereas Cathay Pacific and KAL they are smiling all the time. So that was the last time I took PAL and that was 20 years ago.
So what is my point. MALU FERNADEZ is perhaps the ________ we created !
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:51 pm
mukhang baboy,kaya baboy din ang ugali
September 5th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
My husband works overseas for the past 21 years. My two older sons finished their college education and are now both gainfully employed. Part of the benefit of my husband’s work is for my family to visit him in his place of work in Saudi Arabia and free plane tickets for my family because of it we we were able to tour United States twice and visit Italy for free and yes my family did not go tnt, after touring these countries we went home. You see, Malou Fernandez, we, ofw travel too. My fellow wife of ofw, those who have ofw relatives, wag na natin ipilit na tangapin tayo ni Malou Fernadez at ng mga tulad niya, recently I watched Che-che Lazaro interviewing the person who blog Malou Fernandez column in the internet, at one point che-che blames the guy for blogging it kasi sa comment niya na “Don’t you feel responsible for these or something like that” - she even came to Malou’s defense by saying that sobra na daw ang reaction - not minding why on the first place ofw reacted that way. Hindi kasi nila (Malou and che-che) kailanman mauunawaan ang damdamin ng mga ofw because they don’t have to go to such hardship in their privileged life. Lahat ng pagiingay, lahat ng kacheapan in whatever form we can understand coming from ofw, subukan kaya nilang makulong sa loob ng dalawang taon sa kultura ibang iba at malayo sa iyong mahal sa buhay. Kung ayaw nila sa ofw eh di ayaw din natin sa kanila, huwag bilhin ang dyaryo, travel magazine na nilalait tayo tulad ng Manila Standard at ano ba yung travel magazine na yun. At lahat ng tao ayaw ang ofw eh di ayaw din natin sa kanila, wag tangkilikin ang program nila at wag bilhin ang produkto nila. Ofw are busy people working themselves to death providing for their families back home until Malou Fernandez print her vicious write ups against ofws. And yes, I agree with Rene, we ofw parents should teach our children love of their country, fear of God and good Filipino values.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I hope we can learn to forgive Malu Fernandez. I wrote an entry about her article and I hope you can find time to read it. It’s entitled “One Voice (An OFW’s reaction to Malu Fernandez’s “From Greece to Boracay”)” and I posted it here: http://lestercavestany.com/?p=10
September 7th, 2007 at 9:55 am
I don’t think that Malu’s weight would have not been used against her kung umasal lang sana siya na parang tao at hindi parang baboy. Hindi rin form of discrimination dahil over weight siya ang name calling na ginagawa sa kanya. Baka nakalimutan niya na siya ang unang nang insulto sa mga OFWs. She deserves the negative reactions she got from all the Filipinos (OFW man o hindi). I don’t think she is a true journalist because if I am not mistaken her college degree is Fine Arts (UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts)and not in Journalism kaya wala siyang alam sa pagsusulat ng article na may substance. Sagasaan ba naman niya ang mga OFWs eh di para na siyang nag pakamatay. Siya ang ignorante dahil di ba niya alam na ang mga OFWs ang bumubuhay sa economy ng Pilipinas. Nagkataon lang mayaman siya kaya siya naka-afford pumunta sa Greece at nakakabili ng Jo Malone perfume (big deal). Obviously kulang ka pa rin sa pansin gaya noon nasa college ka halos walang pumansin at lumigaw sa yo dahil sa laki nang katawan mo. Kung gusto mo lang mag papansin wag mga OFWs ang tirahin mo kundi yung mga kaibigan mong social na wala namang ginawang mabuti sa Pilipinas kundi pumorma lang at mag pa ingles ingles. Yun ang dapat mong pinagaaksayahan ng panahon isulat sa mga article mo.
September 7th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Contractor, maari ngang accurate ang sinabi niya. Ewan ko di pa ako nakasakay sa flight na nabanggit mo. Siguro nga rin iniexpress lang niya ang feelings niya. Kaya lang di ba siya tinuruan nang parents niya doon sa ating kasabihan na kung wala ka rin lang magandang sasabihin eh tumahimik na lang. Dapat sana yun na lang ang ginawa niya. Hindi ako OFW at wala rin akong kamag-anak na OFW pero as a Filipino di ko nagustuhan and pangiinsulto niya at pag stereo type sa mga taong nagtitiis magtrabaho sa abroad para buhayin ang kanilang pamilya. No one deserves to be treated the way she treated our OFWS. Yun lang.
September 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
it was in boy&kris program that i heard about malu fernandez’s article…my reaction…”I CRIED”. Naawa ako sa sarili ko at sa mga kagaya kong OFW na nagtitiis ng lahat na hirap(i mean lahat-lahat) sa abroad para lang makatulong sa pamilya. at pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito eh malalait ka pa ng kapwa mo pinoy…ANG SAKIT! SOBRANG SAKIT! AT MAY BONUS PA KASI INANUNSYO PA SA BUONG MUNDO!!!…pero kahit naawa ako sa sarili ko at sa mga kababayan ko…it didn’t make me less proud that i am pinoy. in fact,ang reaction ng media sa issue na ito just shows how pinoys love, respect and unite in times of troubles…malu will not be able to understand our feelings kasi di siguro nya naranasang maghirap at mapahiwalay sa pamilya.di siguro sya naturuan ng parents nya na maging sensitive sa feelings ng iba.siguro absent sya or nagcutting classes sa GMRC(Good Manners and Right Conduct).or di lang talaga siguro sya friendly sa kapwa pinoy lalo na kung di mukhang mayaman.oh siguro,talaga lang na irresponsable syang journalist at saka yung editor nya…”TO BOTH OF YOU: IT WILL NOT MAKE YOU LESS OF A HUMAN BEING IF YOU ARE NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE ESPECIALLY YOUR KABABAYANS.”…ang ipinagtataka ko lang eh bakit kaya sya nag-economy eh di ba sosyal sya?…ang mga sosyal eh hindi sumasakay sa hindi first class!…ewan ko ba sa malu na yun…pasosyal lang siguro!…ayan tuloy ang napala nya…you gained enemies and not friends and most of all lost your job in a horrible way!!!…pinalaki ako ng lola ko na may takot sa Diyos at pagmamahal sa kapwa kaya kahit kung saan-saan na ako nakarating(Saudi,UK at USA)sa paghahanap ng trabaho at magandang kapalaran eh hindi ko naisip minsan na ang estado sa buhay o tagumpay eh sukatan kung anong klaseng tao ka…”Success is becoming the person that you want to be…a person who is happy and can say “Thank You Lord for all Thy blessings.”…..i hope that one day, malu will enjoy the blessings of loving her neighbors as she loves herself…
October 4th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Dear Malou Fernandez,
Who the hell are you? you know what i have also a relative of Mr. Perfecto Fernandez the famous Lawyer back there in the Philippines. I know that all Fernandez are very respectfull people but you are not belong to them you suppose to change your surename right now…….. You know what you have to cut your head and donate it….. your not a diva and you don’t know the true meaning of it…. sorry to say mabaho ka pa sa baboy…….. and the government should do something on this motter…….. you should throw in Baboyan Island your belong on that……….. you will be the queen of them…sana nga naglaslas kana sa plain pala at hindi ka nga magkakasya sa emirates kasi ang laki mo
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Oh ma God!!! She deserves to die!!! I once saw this arrogant bitch years ago at the Shang lobby in Makati. I had just emerged from the gym and was feeling really great after a work out and a long steam. As I was walking out the door, I could’nt help but notice this humongous blob staring at me with the most piercing, beady little eyes and worse, she was looking me up and down, from head to toe. And with a disdainful glare, she suddenly looked the other way. Inirapan pa ko nung puta.
I was surprised because I had never seen her before but my friend who was next to me said that she’s Malu something who was supposedly a writer and who EVERYBODY hated.
This woman is so full of self-loathing that in order for her not to kill herself, has to resort to feeling superior to EVERYONE.
Well guess what pig, you are now getting what you deserve. I only wish this happened sooner.
And that video at YouTube where someone shot your magazine article, made oinking sounds, and brought the camera to a television screen showing pigs running around on Animal Planet was HILARIOUS!!!
Guess what Malu, the jig is up.
People will no longer tolerate your delusions of grandeur, insensitivity, and brutal disrespect for anyone other than yourself and your plastic cohorts.
MAY YOU ROT AND DIE BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Malu Fernandez’s opinions are her right as a Filipina. We shouldn’t lower ourselves to her opinion, by throwing all kinds obscenities in the internet. We as Filipinos are always proud and hardworking people, in fact, that’s always been our strongest asset in today’s competitive world.
We should always conduct ourselves over and above anybody’s opinion - derogatory or uplifting.
As an expat, I endured such treatments among our own people and among foreigners. Who cares? I still get paid better than most people and fly the fastest aircraft - not as a passenger, but as a Pilot. But the strongest part of my Pinoy character is, I never let things/people or event shake me down, in fact, I can always see something funny about it.
How would you like to be my passenger in an aircraft, when something out of the blues start shaking me apart emotionally in midair? Mga kababayan, let’s be professional about this…
April 18th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Well Mr. PinoyPilot, I’m just glad that you never had the chance to be looked at from head to toe by this monstrosity in person. I’m also even more glad that you are paid handsomely as a pilot.
As a writer, this bitch hardly gets paid (I should know, I used to write too and had to pay for all my trips), yet she acts so high and mighty when all she does is depend on her family’s money.
Like you, I work hard to earn my keep. And I make a very DECENT living. Her article (did you even read it Mr. PinoyPilot?) was condescending and so brutally insulting to a lot of people. So for someone who is really just a leech and most likely doesn’t make more money than either of us, I believe that she should just SHUT THE FUCK UP.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Let us be rational here. If one should read the entire article, perhaps a fifth time, all our reactions to it would seem an excess if not absurd and only catapulted the said literature to greater traffic and readership share. She is known to have that sarcastic/overuse of exaggerated rhetorics as her writing style. It was meant to be a Travel Article. NOT a social call/mass awareness paper on “Why OFW’s are Cheap.” It is within her freedom to inject whatever personal opinions she may have on the given experience that she went through and was only relating it in her article, but I never misinterpreted it or even understood it in the faintest manner that it was trying to convince anyone to look down or insult OFW’s…or to insult all the Pinoy OFW’s in general. Read it again…it was very specific to what she experienced aboard the plane. And that’s her article…why have we all become critics of her “as a person”? The article does not insult anyone specifically, much less the “entire” OFW’s as a class or group. Her exaggerated sarcasm is part of her writing style and must never be taken seriously. I don’t see any rationality in taking it more than just a piece of article heavily-laced with exaggerated humor or veiled angst.
The best mode of action is to simply dismiss it. It makes no mention of a direct contempt for OFW’s in general…but was specifically referring to the OFW’s aboard with her that simply made her travel a nightmare. And that’s part of freedom of speech. If bigotry be the point, I think we are twice bigoted for being too narrow in addressing her article with twice the exaggeration that it already has.
And we are only betraying to the world our insecurities for doing so. An exaggerated approach or reaction is twice as worse than the initial cause of annoyance or offense.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Mr. Nugent, I strongly suggest to you that you ALLOW people to vent their feelings as they see fit. What may be an exaggerated response to you may be a minimal response for others. And if you think I am betraying to the world my insecurities by speaking negatively about the atrocious article this pig has written, then you are hugely MISTAKEN. This hog Fernandez is above all, the MOST INSECURE. Having to mention the brand of cologne she wore on the plane just for readers to know it is expensive, is not betraying insecurity???
She has to paint herself as above everyone else to shield her feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. The fact that she is a as big as a mini-van and looks like the seed of Chucky would make even the most jaded slightly insecure.
So back off with your judgments and let people blow off their steam. Just tell your piggy friend to go back to the buffet.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
[...] Watch the youtube video… [...]