A Hong Kong journalist has written a hate article disparaging both the Philippines and Filipinos in the wake of the enactment of the new Philippines Baselines law that includes the Spratlys as a ‘regime of islands’ that form part of Philippine territory.
The Chinese journalist, Chip Tsao, is coming under sharp criticism from Filipinos in the blogosphere and from the progressive party list group Akbayan which says Mr. Tsao and his Hong Kong paper should apologize publicly for their patently racist stance.
Here is the offending article:
The War At Home March 27th, 2009
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.
I am biting my tongue as I write, fighting the urge to respond in kind to Chip Tsao’ thoroughly despicable attitude.
I certainly do not share his views even though I understand how Beijing feels about the Philippine Baselines law about which I have written previously.
I am sure Tsao, who is reputedly known in Hong Kong for his “shock jock” style, really intends to elicit angry reactions from his readers as a way of provoking public debate.
What he fails or refuses to understand is that Filipinos work with dignity wherever they are, whether their source of livelihood is a so-called blue collar job or not.
So do other nationalities.
But racism and bigotry have no place in civilized society.
Tsao and his ilk belong to the Dark Ages.
Popularity: 1% [?]
My suggestion to Filipino maids in HK:
Think of lacing their yellow employers’ coffee with arsenic but if they are not up to it, just spit in their food or mix their noodles with urine.
Good grief. Read the bloody article properly. It’s a sarcastic take by a Chinese against his fellow Chinese fer chrissake. This is the dead giveaway:
“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.”
The article may be in questionable taste, but it is by no means an attack on our kababayan on that Rock over there. Our Filipinas are simply being used as a set up for another target. In fact, it is a backhanded compliment for our hardworking Pinays who are indispensable for HK society.
Ease up guys, and read before you shoot!
i agree marcelo. its satire.
FINALLY SOMEBODY WHO GOT IT!
i can’t believe this guy is so insecure. I can’t be upset. Let them write hate articles about us. It will not make him or them any better. His article reflects the very low quality of service HK magazine delivers to its general public. We should not follow his lead. We are way better than that. Let’s be cool.
I call that mental diarreah. Bayaan mo siyang magkalat.
Are we not barking on the wrong tree ? Regarding the hundreds of thousands of domestic helpers.
Totoo lang naman sinasabi nya.
Truth hurts, really.
eh ano ngayon? does not make us slaves and less human.
“As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.”
so maid ka pala d2 sa pilipinas? ang tinatamaan nya is tayo lahat mga pinoy nasa pilipinas. anong truth doon? nation of servants ba tlga ang pinas!? ano ka? hindi pinoy? u dont love ur own!
I dont find anything wrong with filipinas working abroad as domestic helpers. At least they earn their living decently.
at least this time we are being targetted for actually doing a patriotic and nationalistic act.
at tama si walalang..totoo ang binangit nung nagsulat
so..whats the fuzz..
are you crazy..are you a filipino or what…trying to be somebody..ok we’re are “servants”..but we are not slave..tsao is also a servant stupid…how pathetic..i think tsao only wants publicity..
yahhh! you’re right, ano ba kasing iniisip ng WALALAng na yan..
papansin lang yan. feeling bayani, hindi nman..
walang magawa sa buhay, kumakampi kay Chip, para madiscover ang ka_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _!
kaya di umuunlad ang pilipinas dahil sa mga katulad mo…
Balat sibuyas
“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.”
Now, that’s satire there — taking potshots at his own country in fact. You have to read it at least twice for this to sink in.
His seemingly careless way of using his maid, or the other maids, whose only “misfortune” in this instance is to be Filipinos as cannon fodder to make a point came off as somewhat stinky though. Poetic license or an indicator of a bigoted mind? — take note of the details: “..by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day.” Asus, kailangan bang sabihin yun in a nationally circulated magazine? This ain’t a literary journal. The editor was not doing his or her job.
To write a “a nation of servants?” even if it should be taken into context of the statement and the whole article and again for the editor to let this slip, now, this Chip Tsai defintely wants to be popular like Senora Malu. Just check out the HK magazine site where his article was posted and the riot of comments.
The fellow just want to irritate Filipinos. If you dont mind him.
He will stop. He needs badly some psychiatric care.
being a domestic helper is an honorable job mr. what is not honorable is the deeds of your countrymen here in the philippines. they would build up factories of shabu and such as. i pity you because first of all, you need to make such satire just for your paper to be read. you just want to gain publicity. second is that you treat domestic helpers less human. Hope God won’t spare you
i believe so!
They all so stupid to be recognized worldwide, PAPANSIN…
LIVE! Tsao must apologize! in AIR!
Reacting to a sarcastic article is just adding fuel to the fire. Don’t mind him too much. We’ve all been guilty of venting out sarcasm once in a while.
My update:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/filipinos-rebuke-chip-tsaos-cheap-shot/#more-3564
Fortunately, FV is a very temperate blogsite on this issue…buti na lang. Have you seen the white hot reactions coming out elsewhere from our fellow Pinoys/Pinays on this bit of trivia? So who is being racist now? People should be more careful if they want to keep the moral high ground.
Hi Marcelo.
Yes I am tracking the highly incendiary reactions.
You are correct we cannot cede the moral high ground to characters like Tsao.
Ding,
The HongKong magazine has pulled out the article. It’s no longer on their website — they must have been deluged with comments.
di ba mababaho ang mga yellow monkey!?
Madonna,
Yes the offensive article is no longer online May I remind everyone, however, that the story was in the print edition of HK Magazine, too.
By the way, did you know that for all the bluster of this Chip character, he’s real name is not really Chip.
It’s To Kit.
I wonder why he had to assume a Brit-sounding moniker~? To be hip?
Pretentious chap this Chip. :)
I agree with an official of DOLE when he said and quote: “Pag ang mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong, all 130,000 in China, were to stop working for this, I am not guessing but am confident and sure that their fast-growing economy will come to a halt.”
HA!HA!HA!HA! How ignorant can you get! If 130,000 Filipinos stops working their family will go hungry and Philippine economy sinks!!!!
HA!HA!HA!HA!
trying hard ka mag english mr. pacifico? chinese ka noh? hahahha!!! check your grammar sir.!!!
GRABE !!
KALA mu nmn kung cnong mkpag.slita .
kung sbay2 na ngtgilan sa pagttrabho sa inio ang mga filipina workers?? kaya nio bang mbuhay ?? haha .
tgnan nten kung d bmgsak ekonomiya nio!!
ENVY US !!!!
hostage daw oh? eh di MANG-HOSTAGE DIN TAYO NG HONG KONG INSTIK DITO!!!
Are you for real? Or you just have not been here in our place of “servants”? Well let me urge you to come here you “cheap chow” and i’ll feed you to my dogs. Let alone let you feed them first then feed yourself to them. That would be a sight to see. I havent been to your place but I reapect your kind coz im a chinese-filpino. And im fully educated. Its no wonder you and the magazine your working for need the attention coz im not even familiar with it. Well you got the attention now lets see you get out of it. If ever you’re here send me an email so you’ll see what we are made of. Or you’re just shivering down there? When I saw your “cheap” face on tv I thought you were gay. We’ll are you? Thats my challenge to you now lets see if you are “man” or “woman” emough to accept it. Chow. …..and oh thats the name of the food i feed my dogs everyday.
I also called him “CHEAP CHOW” … hahaha..
He didnt even think twice. what would happen to HK if there are no filipinos there???
KSP lang un. Maybe he has applied for a job abroad alongside a Filipino and the Filipino got the job so he has to go back to HK and writes his sourgripes…
HAHAha ture… true…
ang totoo nga nyan, may katulong kameng Chinese, dalawa sila… ho-hostage-in ko nga sila kung sakaling magka-giyera eh…
bat ganyan ang pagiisip nyang CHEAP na yan, cguro Gay yan, trying hard na makapikot ng Gwapong Pinoy na katulad ko…
by d way, Arnie… may Friendster kaba??? ^_^
in a moment like this could be the only time you’ll notice the difference between the good and ethical writer to those who only possess a rutten mind! how misserable he’s
hay…poor writer! without Filipina maids they’ll be messy…what a gullible person! poor mr. writer…
OmG, we appreciate pa namn ur Products especially mga garments,,, tsk tsk, From now on, i’ll never buy any of ur Products!!:? you Screwed Up My Country! …U R Just A HonGKonian, U have no brain!
Better support our products.No melamine,bird flu, toxic lead levels and etc.
Tsao, u speak in English? but why lots of Honkonian doesnt understand ENGLISH?? r dey Educated? or dey r just bird brain?
well..its true that Pilipinos go abroad to work..earn something for their living but there’s nothing wrong with that..they gave us work..okay fine..true..but it doesn’t give them the right to insult us..and to insult the whole nation.
bat ganyan ang pagiisip nyang CHEAP TSAO na yan, cguro Gay yan, trying hard na makapikot ng Gwapong Pinoy na katulad ko…
( kahit na muka akong Italian Gangster, pinoy paden ako )
by d way, Catty… may Friendster kaba??? ^_^
“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”. YOU SEE CHIP TSAO? HOW PATHETIC AND STUPID YOU ARE. YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO CLEAN YOUR OWN TOILET AND WINDOWS? YOU NEED A FILIPINA BRAIN TO DO IT FOR YOU!!!!!!
How would you become a writer?????? DON’T DRAG INTO MESS THE OTHER GOOD CANTONESE PEOPLE!
Mr. Patriotic, I hope you address you rant on Tsing Tsao on our deluded pekeng-peryodistas, too.
China doesn’t even have the Independent Republic on Taiwan. So all this pathetic Hong Kong Chinese satire from a second rate corner of the mainland doesn’t merit anything at all
Long live the Republic of Taiwan. Chip. Long live Free Tibet! lol
…public apology does not matter any more because we now see what kind of person you really are. At least we don’t generalize that all “hongkongians” are like that coz we are more educated than that cheap chow. And guys maybe statring now we could be calling him “cheap” beacuse thats how he is. Don’t you agree? We’ll have to get to the office cheap. Chow!!! How i wish you would accept my challenge and lets see you get humiliated here. By the way how much do you earn in a month cheap? Bet its a measly amount coz you need the attention so much. And how much does HK sell? Guess its not as much coz they don’t have good editors with principle. On second thought sales would continue to go down because of your stupidity.
No 1 corrupt nation in the world.
No 1 most polluted nation in the world
No 1 exporter of domestic helpers in the word
No 3 sa most populous nation in the world.
iba ang Pinoy !!
ang mga katulad mo ang No.1 problem ng bansa at pag dumami ang tulad mo No.1 na problema yan ng anak mo dahil Filipino siya at lalaitin lalo ng ibang lahi ang mga apo mo.
Chinese… Most of them are really racist especially to their fellow Asians. From a concrete experience with my Chinese boss. I could really feel how he discriminates Filipinos. But guess what, they take Filipino staffs to work with them in the office because we are capable. Our command in English is good. Workwise, we have a say on what we do! I just laugh sometimes how they were threatened by our existence. If they think big of themselves, then why would they feel that way? Why they act that way? Then one day, one British executive from the same field tried to pirate me and even offered a good job package. His reaction was really funny in a way…
If they really think that we are just maids and worse called as “slaves”, then they should have considered the Filipino teachers trying to straighten their Chinese tongue to pronounce “T”, “R” and so many letters in the English Alphabet.
Filipinos are not capable. We are led, commanded, controlled and we meekly follow. We are two legged, flesh & bones robots.
Our english is no good. I wonder why Filipinos are so proud of our impeccable perpekt goot country-club-englischtzes
Renato, am-Bobo moh, baka yung mga tinutukoy mo eh yung mga Badjao sa Kalsada…
alam mo, nagpapapansin ka lang…
samahan mo na nalang yung Baklang Cheap Tsao na yan, at magpakabit na kayo ng Obaryo.
oh, ano?
Filipinos are not capable. We are led, commanded, controlled and we meekly follow. We are two legged, flesh & bones robots.— Sir, with all due respect, I must say that maybe, just maybe you are talking about yourself. Only dead fish swims along with the current!
Filipinos are very hardworking and will do anything to uplift themselves and their families as well, i am a filipino with chineses blood but i really believe that this chip tsao really insulted all of us filipinos. he doesn’t have the right to comment that way…that we are nation of servants. he must never step in our land. filipinos get into drugs because of chinese syndicates who build drug laboratories…unsanitized food spread among the factories of taho , siopao and hopia…who are all owned by the chinese..are you clean chip tsao?
WE ARE NOT PROUD OF OUR GOVERNMENT BUT WE ARE TRULLY PROUD TO BE FILIPINO!!!!!!
cheap chow……F_ck U!!!
Before I got to read the article, I’m thinking that we Filipinos are again overreacting, just like the first time the news about the Subic rape case came out. But after reading the article and multiple reactions here, it also made me clench my teeth. Despite having most of our OFWs working as DH (of which that “cheap chow” only noticed), we also have Engineers, Architects, and Medical Specialists that are much more preferred by countries other than China. We are not a nation of servants, but a nation of bright and creative people. And with the issue regarding Spratlys Island, maybe that HK guy lacks geographical know-how.
And the editors of that magazine, perhaps they should attend seminars by Filipino Journalists. It would greatly improve their tiny brains… Chip Tsao, sali ka na din, tanga!
CHINESE ATTEND SEMINARS BY FILIPINO JOURNALISTS? FILIPINO JOURNALISTS? Hesus Maria Josef Saklolo!
Filipino journalists are brainless idiots … :(
Renato Pacifico..go to hell with that cheap chao.Bobo!!! Isa ka pa..
Renato, sumama ka na kay CHEAP TSAO(To Kit, kahit anu pang pangalan nyan) Tutal, pareho namang kayong BAKLA.
walang kwentang nilalang, magbigti ka nalang nang patiwarik
isa kalang polusyon ng EDSA.
know what? this chinese journalist just want to make a scene. A person with low self esteem. To Kit – means “adorable weight.” he is not adorable right now. Chip – means become famous. Tsao – means overthrow dictatorial rule. He wants to become famous but actually hes not getting there. He wants to overthrow dictatorial rule but thats too bad he became one of them. He forgot the teachings of Sun Tzu – “take good care of your loyal servants for they are just inches away from you.” Maybe they know the RISE AND FALL of their destiny but i doubt they dont know the sayings “DO AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY”
Hi crusaders. Thank you for adding something substantial to the thread.
Some of the ad hominems have been wasting the bandwidth (wink).
Guys, you may care to:
Tsao has issued an apology it seems:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/chips-publisher-apologizes-sort-of/
The Chip Tsao frenzy stirred the proverbial hornets nest that is the Philippines to the extent that Philippines officially banned him from entering the country. Senators demanded investigation, the DFA mulled diplomatic protest, and the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong issued a formal statement criticizing Tsao. And rightfully so. We should shout to high heavens because Chip Chao is so wrong!
Chip Tsao is so wrong in his description of our country: we are not a nation of servants. At the very least, we are a nation of people too lazy to read. At worst, we are a nation of stupid people who already cannot understand what we are reading. To those who made conclusions and opinions without first reading the article of Chip Tsao (including our senators) here are the first two paragraphs of the article:
1. 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.
3. 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.
Right there and then, you can already see that this article is not an attack of the Filipinos. Ironically, it is actually in defense of us. Chip Tsao’s bottomline is putting China to task for picking a fight with lowly Philippines for doing something so minor, instead of directing its rage against Russia and Japan who had done far more serious crimes against China. He even called Spratlys as scattered rocks! Hay, how difficult is that to understand?
Mabuhay talaga ang Pilipino!
IT IS A SATIRE!
The actual message here is for the government of Philippines and on the side US……… the message is actually exposing the plights of the Filipino workers – instead of focusing on another war and providing income to US gov……..how about improving the plights of the Domestic Workers and OFWs in general!!!!!!! The Philippine government should instead focus their resources and energy on the plight and improvement of well being of OFWs instead of preparing for another war on spratlys, an issue since time immemorial and (as provoked by the US!)……… he is demonstrating for increase income, less working time……….read the ques……….
Lets confirm that the Filipinos are intelligent and can read between the lines…..as we were thought on how to read Rizal’s Noli me tangere, El fili and the likes!!!
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/155062/Chip-Tsao-apologizes-for-maid-country-remark
that writer should think twice before he write any bad articles about the Phil.. mr. tsao there are some of your countrymen here who do illegal matters. and besides there is no wrong to be a domestic helper, does they like to serve in other country to be a maid? NO… They are just force to work as DH for their family to have a better future….. and for some na kampi ata dun sa writer hindi naman pnag-uusapan dito qng corrupt an bansa natin or whatever eh!! mga kbbayan ntin ang pnagmumukhang tanga dito prang inamin nrin ng iba na bobo sila…. filipino journalist are idiots? edi inamin na rin nya na imbecile(IQ:10-0) type sya….hahaha hirap mging serious
uhhmmm that guy is so out of his mind!!
JUST STOP NA PO!
Delving so much on the matter makes the avoidable inevitable:
A WAR OF NATIONS…
Apologies were given, so just call it quits ok?
Not much of a point dragging the issue so much that it’s making a mess it shouldn’t cause…
Then, after we see the mess ALL of us has done we’ll start pointing fingers again…
It’s pointless to judge a nation just by one individual, that’s stereotyping…
The same goes to us as well…
Tigilan na po natin kasi sa huli wala din mananalo sa awayang yan, magdudulot lang yan ng mas maraming problema…
PEACE TO ALL…
,.,.tik or chip or cheap as he disguises himself is a left over of the era that has been long gone which is brutal and inhumane and racist,.,.so he should be vanished,.,.i strongly believe that filipinos are the most gifted people in the world,.,.who excels in every area,.,.just a victim of poor governance,.,.a people who’s love for the family is so strong that they are willing to sacrifice to work abroad,,.even doing the most humble work bec they cannot find one in their own country,.,.now that is reflecting our culture,.,.the very hearts of filipinos that we are family oriented,.hardworking,.willing to sacrifice,.diligent,.finds no excuse not to work,.thriving,.resourceful,.able to withstand everything that comes along the way,.,.and for me these are the most important character of an intelligent people,.,.and one more thing we are a happy people despite and inspite of any problems we have,.., :) for tik you will be forgotten,.,.bec people like you are not worth remembering,.,.bec you dont even know how to honor and respect yourself,.,.=D GOD BLESS MY COUNTRY THE PHILIPPINES!! FILIPINOS WHERE EVER YOU ARE BE PROUD BEING A FILIPINO!! HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH!!YOU ARE A CHAMPION!!
Fuck you bitch.. Proud to be filipino… mine is mine. chinese chekwa.. why poor chinese lives around the world specially in the philippines cause government cant provide their needs.. extpel those chinese around the world and bring them back to their damn country.. bloody chinese… let there country do the job not other country. chinses expats benfits around the world while other country suffer from tax evation.. before you say anything PAY YOUR TAXES.. PLEASE TELL YOUR BLOODY COUNTRYMEN FIRST.. Thanks moron..