In Praise of Chip Tsao
March 31st, 2009 by DJBI don’t see why my good friend Manolo Quezon should find himself apologizing to Reyna Elena for correctly appreciating the literary and journalistic nature of Chip Tsao to begin with. (He apologizes for something else but it’s actually beside the point.) The recent satirical piece on the Spratley Islands brouhaha between China and the Philippines by Chip Tsao in his Politically Incorrect column for Hong Kong Magazine, has “sparked outrage” according to one broadsheet’s headline in part for labelling the Filipinos “a nation of servants.” Strangely enough most of those calling for Chip Tsao’s head on a platter, don’t seem to mind it very much when one of their countrymen calls their OFWs “Toilet Bowl Cleaners of the World.” At least Chip Tsao has an outrageous sense of humor that is so in one’s face quite a number seem clueless as to its presence…
The Spratly article is not the first time he’s taken a swipe at Filipino women either — see this. Now, I don’t like dignifying bad taste with indignation. Writings like his probably generate enough controversy to sell newspapers and books, it ain’t my style but I don’t have to do what so many others have done in similar cases (Malu Fernandez, Desperate Housewives and Henry Enfield). My interest in Chip Tsao, his style and his article is to point out that low class and tacky journalism is not peculiar to the Philippines. It’s everywhere.
This got me really curious about what the hubbub is all about with Chip Tsao. So I followed Connie’s link. I’m glad I did. Here is an excerpt from the piece in which Connie Veneracion says that Chip Tsao takes a swipe at Filipina women, from last October, which is actually about the very serious melamine contamination crisis in Chinese milk products last year.
Inspired by the poisoned milk powder scandal, a friend of mine is planning to import a wet nurse from the Philippines. His wife has just given birth to a baby, and he is, most justifiably, extremely worried about anything made in China…But why from the Philippines? Why not recruit a wet nurse from China? I asked my friend who until recently had whole-heartedly loved his motherland. “No,” he explained, “How can you be sure that a Chinese wet nurse is not going to be fake, with something like a Bangkok ladyboy-style plastic bag filled with artificial milk made from poisoned powder?”
So allowing Hong Kong families to import Filipina wet nurses would be an innovation. And not only for babies. What else would be as impressive as a status symbol than when you are visiting a billionaire for lunch and you and dozens of other refined guests are offered a glass of fresh milk to toast everybody’s health, instead of a glass of Chateau Rotschild Lafitte? You would be told that the troop of in-house wet nurses all hail from remote villages in Luzon or Mindanao, instead of the polluted city of Manila, transported to Hong Kong only minutes after they gave birth to their babies, jetfresh, to guarantee the best vintage. So, loosen whatever restrictions and bring them in, Sir Donald—just a thought for your policy speech as I look forward to the milk-tasting party hosted by my friend, whom I warned it would be better for legal reasons, if his wife, the madam—instead of himself, the sir—supervises the job on the spot.
Politically incorrect indeed, figuratively speaking, and full of delicious innuendo, but I think Mr. Chip Tsao is a Master at the genre called Tongue-in-Cheek, or in this case Lips-on-Teats, as he manages to make a pointed criticism of China’s food safety policies whilst delivering fulsome praise for the purity and reliability of Filipino Nurse Maid Service.
I am linking to Chip Tsao’s Politically Incorrect at Philippine Commentary. He’s a an entertaining read…
April 1, 2009 at 12:04 am
Why are Flippinos so incensed of Chip Tsao? Aren’t Flippinos in America, the papered & TNTs, denegrate the non-speaking minorities? Aren’t Flippinos denegrate the whites of their spellings and grammar?
How condescendingly misplaced elitism.
TIP OF THE POST: Does anyone know that regular readers of Filipino blogs only number an average of 15?
April 1, 2009 at 1:29 am
if you are only blogging about your new camera, accomplishments of your children,and other memes, yes it is so but when you post relevant topics and your keywords are in Google page 1, you must be enjoying thousands of visitors and viewers.
April 1, 2009 at 2:09 am
Filipinovoices.com is not in that league yet. I searched my name and it came down the bottom of the pile.
Let’s e-mail all the pekeng-peryodistas to join our lively tit-por-tat so they’d know highly-intelligent-beings reside in this blogsite.
April 1, 2009 at 12:12 am
I attack the very essence of Flippinos, THE TOXIC, CORROSIVE CULTURE. I gnaw at it, rip it apart, dissect it, brutalize it so we come out a different Flippino. So we can call ourselves proudly FILIPINO not FLIPpino.
We are genetically factory-defective from the day we were born. Let’s re-engineer our DNA. Expose our culture. Politics comes later. Politics is not green. Politics is not environmentally friendly. Politics cannot change our culture.
April 1, 2009 at 7:57 pm
hahahha atong bugok u were right at some points pero iniiba mo ang usapan un ang nakkta ko hahahahaha kaw kain mani para gnda isip mo wag lagi itlog lagay sa pansit canton baka kaw ibalik sa grade 1 limot mo abakada hehehe
April 1, 2009 at 12:28 am
DJB,
Part of our psyche to accept in full measure what our countrymen said about us but not from a chink-eyed to tell us that we are a “nation of servants” being paid a pittance who do not deserve a raise if we do not kiss “Mao Tse Tung’s” ass.
But here is my own personal outrage.
Chinese came to the country complete with paraphernalia to produce shabu in commercial scale. Put up mobile factories in Metro Manila and the neighboring towns. Some days back, five chink-eyed Koumintang were apprehended by PDEA in Laguna.
Other chink-eyed Koumentang were still on the loose and free to peddle shabu that can ruin the future of Pinoy kids.
Filipinas went to Hongkong and worked as DH’s. They worked 16 hours and underpaid according to Cathy the Cat and served their Chinese masters so their children can get washed and eat on time.
Contrast the two situations and you can already feel the outrage.
Early Chinese merchants got a foothold in the Philippines by trading trinkets and cheap linen for real gold.
Centuries thereafter they become corn and rice “compradores” and later as “poultry, hog, textile and hotel and mall” magnets. To protect their businesses they bribed our “politicos”.
Lucio Tan is said to have fronted for Mr. Marcos. When the Marcoses cam back, Bongbong wanted to get his Dad’s billions from Mr. Tan.
Mr. Sy of SM Megamalls hired thousands of sales ladies for six months. Allows the contract to expire after six months and rehire them after a furlough of 1 or 2 months so they do not become permanent employees who should be entitled to vacation and sick leave.
Binondo Chinese is said to be behind the cartels of rice and vegetables in Metro Manila. In our province of Camarines Sur, a Chinese businessman controls the price of rice as well as oil.
If you believe in the Balzac dictum that “behind every great wealth is a great crime” you can see now that I do not have much respect for the Chinese and they should stop their arrogance and condescending attitude towards Pinoys.
April 1, 2009 at 1:00 am
No basis in fact. Fishwives tales as usual peddled by pekeng-peryodistas. I just wonder why our pekeng-peryodistas cannot get a handle on FACTS!
April 1, 2009 at 1:20 am
so what are your facts renato or renata?
April 1, 2009 at 4:13 am
Renato Pacifico,
can you see the finger????
bwehehehehe
April 1, 2009 at 4:14 am
very true…
April 1, 2009 at 7:19 am
But JCC, isn’t that a bit far afield from what Chip Tsao was actually talking about? It’s all true, but what’s it got to do with th eSpratleys?
April 1, 2009 at 8:22 am
Nothing at all. They can have the Spratleys for all I care. They have the main island of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao already, but I cannot take it sitting down the the arrogance of this “chink-eyed” Koumintang.
April 1, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“chink-eyed” Koumintang? It seems that you have a very strange understanding of Kuomintang? Kuomintang is the name of a Chinese political party whose headquarter is now in Taiwan! How is it related to the topic of Chip Tsao?
April 1, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Koumintang is my characterization of a group of chinese who refused to acknowledge Mao Tse Tung and therefore went to Taiwan and somewhere else, Hongkong, RP, Singapore, etc.
April 1, 2009 at 12:37 am
Manolo, DON’T WORRY, I’m with you on this one!
April 1, 2009 at 1:00 am
Talking about people as tho’ they were chattel is bad enough, and yet you have the gall to praise how our women are being described as cattle?
Oh wait. It’s that uso thing called irony, isn’t it? :D
April 1, 2009 at 1:02 am
Maid is deragotory because of the way we treat Housemaids here.
Maid abroad is not deragotory. It’s an occupation with dignity.
So why does Flippinos get incensed when we our main exports are domestic helpers or maids? Because we see in them ourselves.
Once we treat our maids, househelp or houseslaves with dignity that’s the only time we see the word housemaid as not deragotory.
April 1, 2009 at 1:10 am
DJB,
I have the feeling that Chip is in love with his “domestic assistant” . . . may be the only one whom he trusts when it comes to the realpolitik of “international politics.”
April 1, 2009 at 4:15 am
or maybe chipmunk tsao is raping her pinay assistant…isnt that what most of them do to pinays? pay them less with more workng hours and abuse them…and rape them…
April 1, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Haha! 100 points to Sir Margallo. An excellent insight.
April 1, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Sir Abe, baka naman frustrated dahil baka my heartache in the past? na nain love at nabasted ng Pinay nung kabataan nya?
April 1, 2009 at 11:12 pm
he is not getting his “politics” from his maid with a degree in “international politics” otherwise he should know the art of tact and diplomacy.
April 1, 2009 at 1:16 am
Flippinos love small stuff: Chip Tsao, fake perfume, desperate housewives … etc. etc. Flippinos can easily see the wrongs in them.
But Senate bungling of ZTE invistigation, irresponsible reporting of Joey de Venecia hearsays and BIGGER ISSUES gets the back burner …
I JUST WONDER WHY? Just thinking out loud :)
Are Flippinos sick in the head or something?
April 1, 2009 at 4:16 am
renato…
what about now…can you see the finger???
bwhehehehe
April 1, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Lighten up, RP. It’s April Fool’s Day. But Chip Tsao is seriously wicked stuff, ain’t he?
April 1, 2009 at 8:14 pm
“Flippinos love small stuff: Chip Tsao, fake perfume, desperate housewives … etc. etc.”
Whoa! Such generalisation. Not quite, dear boy, not quite.
April 1, 2009 at 1:17 am
… and yet, Flippinos cannot see the wrongs in Bungling Senate ZTE invistigation …
AAAAAAYYYYY NAKUUUUUU PLEASE PANGINO-ON KUNG TOTO-O KA BABABA KA DITO PAGKATAPUS AYUSIN MO ANG UTAK SA MGA PILIFINOS ….
April 1, 2009 at 4:17 am
and what about nowwww renato….can you see the finger now?????
April 1, 2009 at 7:18 am
Lord, Unahin nyo po ayusin ang utak ni renato – renata. Amen.
April 1, 2009 at 2:20 pm
“Lord unahin nyo po ayusin ang utak ni renato-renata,Amen”
Amen
April 1, 2009 at 2:21 am
That wet nurse article is an outrage. We, as a people, should demand an apology or we will retaliate. Teat for tat.
April 1, 2009 at 2:27 am
If we retaliate, what have we got? BIBIG? MANNY PACQUIAO? PAMPLENGCO? WOWOWIEEE? EAT BULAGA???
POEA should certify their employer that they are in good standing NOT JUST BECAUSE FILIPINAS NEEDED FOREIGN CURRENCY …
April 1, 2009 at 2:31 am
I said Teat for Tat NOT Tit for Tat. Got it?
April 1, 2009 at 3:35 pm
hehehehe.
April 1, 2009 at 5:05 am
Is the rumor true that there was an instance in the past where some Chinese forces secretly stationed somewhere in the Spratleys islands were spotted by a patrolling PAF fighter plane?
The rumor goes that in spite repeated warning shots fired by the fighter plane, the Chinese didn’t return fire with their own warning shots even if they have with them modern powerful anti-aircraft guns. The Chinese commander figured that his bullets costs more than the aircraft.
What airplane was the PAF using at that instance? A vintage rickety Tora-Tora? :-)
April 1, 2009 at 9:09 am
Nope, most likely the tiny Marchietti S-211. The Tora-toras (which the lame este lay-people mistake for a WW2 vintage when it’s actually a 1960s era T-28 Texan) aren’t operational anymore, and don’t have the range to patrol the Spratlys; they were replaced by the venerable OV-10 Bronco.
April 1, 2009 at 12:52 pm
If the rumor was true and the PAF was using a tiny Marchietti S-211, then what bullets were the Chinese using then, alloyed with gold? :-)
April 1, 2009 at 2:41 am
Sorry, Supremo. I thought you said “TITS for TWATS” :)
April 1, 2009 at 3:02 am
That works too.
April 1, 2009 at 2:04 pm
It’s April fools!
You two people are amusing. I was just wondering how does a TEAT for TWAT works? :-)
Isn’t this lesbianism? (LOL)
April 1, 2009 at 3:16 am
DJB,
Here’s a thought:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090401-197273/Louisas-war
April 1, 2009 at 3:39 am
This column solidify’s Tsing Tsao’s suspicions on Filipinos. Nice work INQ! INQ columnists never stopped to amaze me. THAT’S A QUALIFIED CERTIFIED PEKENG-PERYODISTAS SHOOTING FROM THE LIPS …
I would not be surprised Louisa will fly off the high rise condo without wings … the Hong-Kongese media will bill it as suicide because of INQs ignorance and obliviousness ala Nicole V Smith.
VIVA PEKENG-PERYODISTAS!!!!!!
SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT BOYCOTT PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPERS THE ENVIRONMENT YOU SAVE WILL ALSO SAVE THE LIFE OF LOUISA FROM RETRIBUTION!!!!
April 1, 2009 at 4:18 am
of course you cant see the finger..you idiot…its right up your stpid ass
bwahahahahaha
April 1, 2009 at 6:41 am
Rina Jimenez-David must not read international labor situation because she’s oblivious of her rants.
If Hong-Kongeses eject Filipinos over Spratley and eventual war, Viet Congs, Burmeses, Thailanderes and other banana-republic-in-league-of- Philippines will take Filipinos place.
But, wait a minute. If ever we go to war with China over Spratley, PMAers, Senators, Congressmen, Tisoys and Tisays and el Presidenta will be in America before we have raised and waved our white flags of surrender.
So, Filipnos will still be working with Hong-Kongeses. LOGICAL? RIGHT?
So, therefore, Rina Jimenez-David needs iQ test so she can make logical statements in her column.
April 1, 2009 at 7:55 am
Why Renato? How do you treat your maids? Don’t say “we” pare. This poor people deserve respect (if not more) than people like you. Bakit kinahihiya mo ba sila pare! These people turn-in an honest and hard days work to earn for their poor families here or in their provinces. Cut the hoopla renato. As far as the spratleys are concerned, they truly belong to us. If we can defend for them is another story.
April 1, 2009 at 9:52 am
The following is part of the column of Ana Marie Pamintuan written today (April 1, 2009) in Philippine Star, I suggest racists must read, I think it was very objectively written, without the flame of bias of a racist:
There is nothing to be ashamed of in doing honest work. The Chinese are well aware of this. In another era, they cleaned Filipinos’ ears (really) and took care of Filipino babies.
But there isn’t much to brag about either in seeing our teachers and, in the case of Chip Tsao’s Louisa, a graduate of international politics from the University of Manila, working as servants around the world.
The multibillion-dollar remittances of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) – about a tenth of our total population — account for a hefty chunk of those positive economic figures trotted out regularly by the government.
That army of OFWs guarantees that Chip Tsao will have to contend with Filipino workers not just in his home but also in hospitals, hotels, cruise ships and restaurants in Hong Kong and most countries.
But there is nothing to be proud of in the fact that millions of Filipinos are leaving their own country to clean foreigners’ toilets, wash their windows and wipe their butts because of lack of better opportunities at home.
The thrust of any self-respecting government should be to create a better job market in the Philippines that will stop the exodus of workers and persuade the army of OFWs to return home.
Instead the Arroyo administration has encouraged the exodus to continue, thereby worsening the brain drain and the continually growing lack of teachers and health professionals nationwide.
Our industries are running out of skilled workers and there aren’t even enough qualified Filipinos to fill thousands of vacancies in the business process outsourcing sector.
Unable to stop the exodus, the next best thing to do is raise the quality of our human export. Our overseas work force can’t forever be overwhelmingly made up of maids, caregivers and blue collar workers. Indians, for example, are dominating the information and communication technology sector in several countries. Though poverty incidence in India is still high, its human export is increasingly made up of doctors, engineers, economists and financial managers.
The only way to raise the quality of our human resource is by raising the quality of Philippine education. It’s the kind of education that should land a graduate of international politics in our schools a job that befits the college degree.
The Chinese in the Philippines have graduated from cleaning ears, babysitting and selling taho to owning the taho factory as well as airlines, shopping malls and many other businesses.
They did this by learning well and working hard, rising above any insults or racial slurs thrown their way.
Success is the best balm for wounded national pride. Success is the best revenge.
April 1, 2009 at 10:34 am
indeed.
April 1, 2009 at 11:09 am
erichan,
You are showing your chinese color. You keep on mouthing chinese having become successful in the Philippines because they have graduated from cleaning ears and babysitting Pinoys and they were able to rise above insults and racial slurs.
There are lots of good Chinese People in RP, that is conceded, but the one owning San Miguel and Pal was reported to be a thief who stole from another thief so that when the Marcoses came back Bongbong tried to recover those billions from this thief.
Another chinese guy who owns big malls hired thousand of sales ladies for six months, allows the contract to expire after six months and rehire them after a month or two months furlough and rehire them back so they do not become permanent employee who should be entitled to sick leave and vacation leave.
It has nothing to do with the failure of the government to provide work for its citizens. It has something to do with the right of every Filipino wherever he may be to be treated humanly and with dignity as long as he does an honest job.
Please give me one liner as to my issue of why Chinese came to RP to peddle drugs and destroy the lives of our children for money while Pinays go to Hongkong to take care of Chinese kids and cook for them and earn their money the hard way?
April 1, 2009 at 11:37 am
of course it has everything to do with the failure of the government to provide work for its citizens, and to let them also be aware of the fact that the worse forms of indignity often always happen abroad. and however much we scream to be treated humanely, it’s a darwinian world out there.
April 1, 2009 at 9:19 pm
you want to blame everytning to your government and you want to impress us that you are blameless. this is democracy. discover your potential and live out your dreams even if it means getting out of the country and make a decent living. other nationalities are scattered all around the world and yet they do not blame their government.
April 1, 2009 at 9:56 am
I think the phrase goes “bato-bato sa langit ang mataan huwag magalit…ang pikon laging talo…”
I must admit that Mr.Tsao’s article infuriated me when I first read it. But before allowing my emotions to get the best of me I decided to look for other websites/blogs that mentioned this article. And unsurprisingly I found a lot of Filipino blogs infuriate with this man. But thankfully, I found some lone voices in cyberspace sharing alternate perspectives to what this man wrote.
I think one of the best was written by Ricky Carandang which goes…
“We are so easily offended by the most casual insult towards our country by outsiders and yet we cultivate a blind indifference towards the daily rape of our country by our own citizens. There’s nothing wrong about being a maid in Hong Kong. Its honest and dignified work. What’s sad is that the only reason they have to be there is because they can’t find decent well paying work here at home. And who’s fault is that? Is it the same people who are so angry about this latest slur to our dignity?
Its much easier to pretend to be a nationalist then it is to actually be one.”
I hated the fact that Mr.Tsao degraded the image of our ofws; how he made us look so weak and so undignified. But isn’t this the reality? Also how can we cast the first stone when we ourselves are the ones throwing our countrymen to people or countries that belittle our very existence?
We have accepted the status quo so much that it is painful for us to hear our shortcomings as a nation from someone that is not of our own race. This is the truth…and it is painful. Accept it and demand or better yet act to see the change that we need.
I have nothing against Chinese-Filipinos because at least they make jobs for Filipinos here at home and I know some of them to be very kind. And I have nothing against Filipinos getting mad at this man. Who would not be insulted if someone calls his brother shit? But I only hope that we could go beyond being “pikon” and do something about it. For starters how about we make decent jobs so that Filipinos don’t have to leave and clean people’s toilet bowls? Or do something closer to home and register your maids. You guys do know that our house helpers just like in any business should be registered right?
April 4, 2009 at 12:18 am
Francis,
You are trying to reduce the issue as a simple case of “tightshirtedness” (pikon). NO sir. It is allright if I call my brother/sister stupid, but I would be slighted if my neighbor would called them the same.
We are not a nation of servants and assuming we are, we try to serve other nations the honest way. Chinese come to the country with paraphernalia of shabu and peddle drugs in our streets. You would be offended if I call China a “nation of “drug peddlers”.
One local chinese was a Marcos frontman. The latter stole from the people and used the chinaman as a dummy. Bongbong came back to get his Dad’s million from this Chinaman.
It would be Unfair if I call the China as a nation of “dummy thieves”.
Another local chinese employs thousands of sales ladies for six months. Allows the contracts to lapse. Rehire them after a month or two furloughs to prevent them from becoming permanent employees to save on “sick leave and vacation leave”.
It is unfair if I called the China as a nation of “exploiters”.
You know Francis, I have nothing to do with our Pinays going abroad, because I was never a part of this government, but like others who have not done any aggravation that makes our compatriots toe a beeline exit towards other nation’s ports to work as maids, we have viewed Mr. Tsip’s article as inherently objectionable and I think you should too.
April 1, 2009 at 10:02 am
Can we invite CHEAP CHOW here in the Philippines to show how hospitable Filipinos are? I’m sure the Filipino communities in Hongkong would be very much accommodating to solicit an all expense paid trip for this guy to SULU with direct flight to ABUSAYAFF CAMPS. Maybe we could ask ABUSAYAFF leaders to take CHEAP CHOW in exchange for the 3 IRC members?
April 3, 2009 at 1:22 pm
you dont need to invite him, he has a plan lolz, http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090403-197696/Racist-HK-writer-wants-to-visit-RP
April 1, 2009 at 10:23 am
has anyone really bothered to read the entire article of chip tsao? even the link contained in veneracion’s site is truncated. the last paragraph would have revealed the wicked satirical intent of the writer. read before you shoot.
indeed we are a nation of servants. this is undeniable. even the proposed medium of instruction bill enhancing the use of the english language “so we can a world-class labor force” enshrines this idea. so what’s the hoopla all about?
besides there is no pinay maid–according to abs news–in chip tsao’s household except in his father’s, who’s been working there for 14 years–tell’s us how much this much abused maid really love working for them, huh?
April 1, 2009 at 10:55 am
emillie,
may be you are a servant but not all Pinoys working abroad are servants. assuming they are, they were working honestly to survive.
how about those chinese who came to RP to peddle drugs. have you got something to say about it?
April 1, 2009 at 11:10 am
so, who’s arguing on this assumption?
who bows to let them in, and send them out scot free?
April 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
going by your logic, not all who read chip tsao not not know he intended it to be a satire.
did you read the article in its entirety? now, what have you got something to say about it?
or is this a case of cocktail party syndrome–a blog gang up just because everyone chose to hear the phrase “nation of servants”?
April 1, 2009 at 3:39 pm
At last we have got an open-minded one to ask “who bows to let them in, and send them out scot free?”, nice question! Mr. jcc, that is why I mentioned some people can not even distinguish Chinoy from mainlander! Those who came to RP to peddle and produce drugs are Mainlanders not the local Chinese -Filipinos. Can you explain how they got into the Philippines? And how come they were easily been freed?
April 1, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Re emilie’s
“because everyone chose to hear the phrase “nation of servants”?”
If you asked me, I would be perfectly honest, I wasn’t offended by that silly phrase or “nation of servants” of his thinggy. Never thought the Philippines as a nation of servants. To me it was a cheap crass shot but that was all there was to it.
What I found offensive was his description of how the Chinese treated Filipino servants (or is it in HK?) — it depicted something that was actually real and I’ve seen Chinese acquaintances behave in this fashion towards their servants so I thought it was crass.
You see, I don’t exactly approve the idea of further stepping down on those that are already at the “bottom of the totem pole.” (Those Robin Hood tales surely got to me… wink, wink.)
I didn’t know Tsao from Adam (although I’d read the wet nurse thing but didn’t know then until I read Dean’s post that he had written it too) and took his piece for what it was, a vulgar and crass piece of whatever.
Now, the wet nurse thing, I thought, was satirically funny and had no issues there although I remember reading a blog containing incendiary comments about the piece.
The desperate housewife thinggy that provoked a widespread furour in the US didn’t actually affect me because I felt the Philippine doctors in the US were big enough, i.e., the Pinoy doctors were at the higher end of the totem pole to be able to take on a heavyweight battle.
April 1, 2009 at 8:58 pm
But tell you what Emilie, while I would not resent the Philippines being called a “nation of servants” (because it is not), I definitely would resent Pinas being described as 2nd world (or 1st world) or being not at par with Zimbabwe or Haiti just like what Dean a couple of years ago vehemently believed, i.e., that the Philippines could not be compared remotely to 3rd or 4th world countries (wink, wink!)
(Remember that debate we had on one nation one vote in the UN some 3 years ago when you sort of thought it wasn’t fair to give other fellow “3rd or 4th world” nations the same vote as the Philippines because one shouldn’t even begin to compare Pinas with all those 3rd world, half illiterate, downtrodden countries? Heh! OK, I’m outta here before Dean starts throwing his shoes at me!)
April 1, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Ooops, for the record, the “remember reminder thinggy” was meant for Dean and not for Emilie.
April 1, 2009 at 11:35 pm
<blockquoteWhat I found offensive was his description of how the Chinese treated Filipino servants (or is it in HK?) — it depicted something that was actually real and I’ve seen Chinese acquaintances behave in this fashion towards their servants so I thought it was crass.
adebrux:
you see anne, this is where tsao gets wickedly funny, because he has to project the very condition of what may actually be real–as you so suggest–by owning it up, where no chinese will claim to have done so. tsao is actually pulling the rug under them.
o henry reveals the twist in his satirical writinga at the end of every story. and so i repeat the question: has anyone really bothered to read tsao’s article in its entirely, sans the truncation of his last paragraph?
April 2, 2009 at 12:09 am
Mari Chan, or Eri Chan,
I will repost what I said in “Closing the Book”
malabo ka talaga. i said if Cheap Taho can make a racial slur, why can’t jcc do the same? tit for tat or what is good for the gander is good for the goose. one has started it i am just finishing it up.
issue: pinays work as maid to earn decent livelihood, insulted and condescended upon.
chinese came to rp: to peddle drugs, bribed corrupt politicians and policemen and even corrupt judges so they can continue their trade.
your conclusion is that chinese peddling drugs were no longer guilty because they were able to bribe their way around. wrong logic – those Koumintang remains guilty as the corrupt policemen, politicians and judges which could have some Chinese bloodline too, or even pure Filipino Malay blood.
some other chinese came: became successful businessmen, fronted for high government officials, officials steal from the people, hid the loot using a chinese front man. relatives came back asked the chinaman to return the loot to the relatives. still not clear to you Erichan or shall I say Eri Chan?
April 2, 2009 at 12:23 am
Re: “i said if Cheap Taho can make a racial slur, why can’t jcc do the same? tit for tat or what is good for the gander is good for the goose.”
That’s the spirit!!!!
Being diabolically racist against another racist can be good for the soul.
Tit for tat? Agree, agree, agree!
(Now, I’m outta here once more before shoes get thrown at me.)
April 1, 2009 at 11:04 am
isn’t “nation of servants” strictly speaking incorrect? an exaggeration that reveals its intent to be funny and shocking?
after all, if its strictly correct, what is the magic number for RP to be nation of servants? 2% of its population? 3%? nation of servants na yun?
why is learning english equivalent to being a servant?
April 1, 2009 at 11:28 am
gabby,
go figure that out. read the house bill before shooting. however much the lawmakers clothe their language in the most diplomatic and saccharine way (world-class competitiveness: but how? just by speaking the language?!?), the the message remains–let people slave it out abroad and bring in the moolah.
pamintuan’s take is right on spot.
April 1, 2009 at 11:49 am
@ inidoro
i can believe that its got the word world-class competititveness on the bill… but i’m still struggling to understand, why is learning english equivalent to being a servant?
the word competitiveness, as i understand it, means, “better able to get jobs”. the fact that the jobs are elsewhere, and not in the philippines is not the fault of the bill.
where-ever the jobs are, english would still be important… yes?
unless, your beef is that you are against salaried employment. is this what u mean?
do u then mean that english is not useful for entrepreneurs?
i understand that this is your opinion. i only am interested in your POV, way of thinking…
April 1, 2009 at 10:47 am
the philippines may need more insults. :) it hurts so good.
April 1, 2009 at 12:59 pm
hahahaha nice one
April 1, 2009 at 2:39 pm
lol natawa naman ako dito, my pagkasadista hahaha
April 1, 2009 at 7:47 pm
wahahahaha ang lalim nyan ah hahaha i like it….
April 1, 2009 at 11:08 am
“nation of servant” is better than “nation of druglords” :-)
“wet nurses” is better than “cheap and low quality products producer”.
April 2, 2009 at 3:50 am
Speak for yourself, Selboy if that is how you feel of your country.
Filipina maids in Honkong have no control on Philippine government. It does not mean they will not be accorded with human dignity for their decent services.
April 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
DJB
Chip Tsao rantings is reminiscent of Herr Doktor Goebbles’s rantings. There is only an microiota of humour in that.
Nothing is funny about discrimination. Since the satirical post is geopolitical, before Tsao rants about war in the Kalayaan Islands, let him stage an invasion to reclaim the Independent Republic on Taiwan for the Motherland!
April 1, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Ben Blackshama,
Herr Doktor Goebbels is in a different league than Chip Tsao! Read more of him. He’s like…well Ambeth Ocampo-cum-Boy Abunda. hehe.
April 1, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Dean, that’s the gravatar icon I was talking about. :-)
April 1, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Hey guys if any one of you care to, Tsao himself appears to have finally issued a personal apology. Here’s my updated post :
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/chips-publisher-apologizes-sort-of/
April 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm
too late na…nailabas na nya ang gusto nya sabihin hehe
April 1, 2009 at 12:43 pm
BTW, the report says the apology aired last night, Msrch 31, not today April 1st. :).
Tignan natin kung tutoo ito.
April 1, 2009 at 2:02 pm
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!
April 1, 2009 at 11:43 pm
okay, why is he apologizing for his article if it was not meant as an insult on Pinay maids?
April 2, 2009 at 6:38 am
have you read the apology? do you understand this line? “The ’servant’ is a sacred term. A Hong Kong government official is a civil servant. We are all servants to God, right? I’m now aware that I’ve crossed the line and I offer my public apology.”
i can almost imagine what chip chao is thinking while saying this. what he actually meant was “okey pinoys, your puny national psyche cannot comprehend these things. So, i am sorry.”
this is exactly the same thing i say and do when i get pissed off with stupid jeepney and taxi drivers on the road who insist that they are right even if they are so wrong. i simply tell myself, “if they are better than me, then i should be the one driving that jeep and taxi while they are the cops.” and i just walk away and leave them to continue their miserable ways. hahaha
as a nation, we have this kind of streak. we raise ruckus at the smallest of things. this is a mark of small minds with inferiority complex. do you remember a time that the US or any of the G7 countries raise a fuss over some offensive labeling over them? have the us filed any diplomatic protest against countries that called dubya all these names? compare that to the philippines. we almost filed a diplomatic protest because a bakery labelled one of its products as “Filipino Cookies” only to find out that here we are calling a paint “Dutch Boy”.
Also, when did you hear the Catholic Church raise a howl against those people criticizing and maligning the Pope? Some evangelists even go to the extent of calling the Pope as the Anti-Christ. Compare that to the Muslims. They almost issued a death warrant against a singing group for including in one of their songs the line “God is Great”.
Remember, only a flea can actually see another flea. The dog simply brushes them away with his tail if they become too irritating. The flea is too insignificant for the dog most of the time…
April 2, 2009 at 9:35 pm
So you are parsing Cheap Taho’s apology which is not actually an apology but an explanation that the word servant is not derogagrory because that’s the way government officials are called, in Hongkong “servants”.
But that is not the context for which he used the word “servant” in his article. Here read it:
“x x x 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.”
Nowhere that insult is the idea that the word “servants” was used in the context of “government servant” and government officials in Hongkong by the way, can always flex their muscles anytime. So if you read the servants as used in the article to mean also “government servants” and accept the explanation, eh, “gunggong na lang talaga tayo”.
But this is my point. If some 130,000 Pinay maids are working in Hongkong as maids out of 95 Million Pinoys why would that make us a nation of servants? And read further, inasmuch as we are a nation of servants, we cannot flex our muscles against your master from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
Look at the use of the word “servants” and “most”. The article derogates other OFW’s working in the Middle East, US, France, England and other parts of the world who contributed in no small degree in making our economy afloat not as homeservants but nurses, doctors, PT’s, construction workers, engineers, IT workers, artists, and small enterpreneurs.
Marcelo,
Colonial mentality and inferiority complex, on the contrary are the hallmarks of those who read nothing wrong in Cheap Taho’s article of insult.
June 10, 2009 at 12:55 am
because they’re wise to know that Filipino will never get over anything without an apology. it was just to satisfy us..and not even a sorry is enough for politicians…I think thye aimed to satisfy the annention-hungry politicians.
April 1, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Happy April 1 Fool’s Day everyone!
LOL, this Chip Tsao is a gas — he should gas himself and let his maid, Luisa do the honor. He’s a sucker for S&M.
April 1, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Hi, Madonna,
Nice to read you back. You see I am not male chauvinist pig that you may think I am. I am also a pro-woman activist sometimes like Gabriela. :)
April 2, 2009 at 1:13 am
Hey jcc,
Of course you aren’t and I never thought you were. Me no feminist either hehe — though I admire Gabriela Silang.
April 1, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Tell Mr Tsao that we Pinoys can consider exchange our pieces of China in our possession such as De La Salle Taft and Santa Mesa Heights for the Nansha Islands. Besides DLSU is infinitely more valuable than a rock in the China Sea. Ateneo can easily fill in the Chinese cultural void left by La Salle. Where is that Confucius Institute located?
But of course we have to hold on and defend Binondo, whose economy really runs the Philippines.
April 1, 2009 at 4:02 pm
jcc said I am showing my Chinese color? Is it a crime to be of Chinese ancestry like Jose Rizal? Mr jcc, I am talking to you in a nice way. Please hold your hatred on Chinese. This is for you ” HATE HURTS THE HATER MORE THAN THE HATED” Cool!
At last we have got an open-minded one to ask “who bows to let them in, and send them out scot free?”, nice question! Mr. jcc, that is why I mentioned some people can not even distinguish Chinoy from mainlander! Those who came to RP to peddle and produce drugs are Mainlanders not the local Chinese -Filipinos. Can you explain how they got into the Philippines? And how come they were easily been freed?
“chink-eyed” Koumintang? It seems that you have a very strange understanding of Kuomintang? Kuomintang is the name of a Chinese political party whose headquarter is now in Taiwan! How is it related to the topic of Chip Tsao?
April 1, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Kuomintang is KUOmintang not KOUmintang, note the spelling. Let’s discuss things with historical basis, not just purely from racial prejudice. It brings us nowhere if you bear hatred.
At last you were able to say “There are lots of good Chinese People in RP, that is conceded”, which shows you are still open to sincere discussion.
April 1, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Erichan,
I ask you to never leave this place while jcc is around – just kidding.
Now I realize – quick and easy – that the ‘bully in the school yard is a myth’.
Not that I hate jcc, but this guy calls me a moderator of FV, calls me as involved in self-indulgence, call me every name he imagines.
Like you noticed, he made a whole lot of assumptions bereft of historicism. I just know he himself may have many servants.
April 1, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Nielsky,
To obtain some historical context, ask Atty. Camano about the case of the missing Super Kalan. :)
April 1, 2009 at 11:22 pm
nielsky,
never accused you of self-indulgence. just asking if you have become lately the FV Moderator to judge that one post is relevant or not. cheers!! :)
April 1, 2009 at 4:16 pm
On a lighter note, Happy FV Anniversary to us all!
April 1, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Yes, we really need a moderator out here, thanks Nielsky. Happy FV Anniversary too. A SOFT ANSWER TURNS AWAY WRATH. I hope jcc will now be cool cool coooooool!
April 1, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Chip Tsao…im afaid u will be a servant of ur maid after life…
April 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Chip Tsao’s article is not a Satire. It is a deliberate attempt to
put down the Filipinos.
He is just an ignorant fool, who does not know what he is talking
about.
April 1, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Chip Tsao’s article is not a satire. It is a deliberate attempt to put light on the plight of Filpinos.
Who was it who said TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE? TRUTH HURTS! TRUTH HURTS! TRUTH HURTS!
We are a land of servants. LED, COMMANDED, CONTROLLED AND WE MEEKLY FOLLOW!!!!! That’s why Filipinos who go abroad work in service ndustry. In service industry is the place where they don’t need to think. They are told what to do, how to do it, when to do it AND FILIPINOS ARE VERY GOOD AT THIS!
April 2, 2009 at 12:00 am
i’m not sure i know what a satire is, but i think this is it. if this is it then renato is a satirist. is satire synonymous to broken record?
April 2, 2009 at 3:42 am
Renato, you need to read the whole article. So far, you are only up to the title “nations of servants” which we can understand where you came from.
April 2, 2009 at 1:10 am
have you seen in movies,TVs or even in real life that we make fun of people with black skin, we call them negro,panget etc… and also chinese we make fun on their accent and we even sing butchiki…
do you still remember what sen. miriam santiago said on her speech?
“China invented civilization in the East, but as well it invented corruption for all of human civilization.”
wasnt that racist
now if its our turn to be joke then we cry and say foul.. lets clean first our own house!!!!
April 2, 2009 at 3:02 am
There was nothing insulting in Mr. Tsao’s article, based on the above excerpt… What was “racist” in it? There are generalizations in it, yes, but even the average Filipino would agree to it as well. We do export domestic helpers to work in Hongkong…what is insulting in that? It’s satirical…and that is within Mr. Tsao’s freedom to express.
The people who feel insulted by it, are the insecure ones…for some strange reason which I cannot understand. Those who perhaps feel artificially patriotic all of a sudden, to assuage their own inner guilt that they felt the same or have allowed the same to happen to their own kind. Maybe they see themselves as real slaves. Let’s face it, we are a nation of slaves…if we weren’t, then we would have valued human labor as our greatest wealth and would have placed a high value to it, creating more jobs for people and increasing the local wages…that way, these people won’t be slaving-away their lives in other countries. Until we remedy that, we will keep on feeling insecure and onion-skinned with remarks like those above…because we deeply know…it’s TRUE.
April 2, 2009 at 3:22 am
OKay Filipino AS Is:
Why is the guy making an apology on his article which was not insulting in the first place?
April 2, 2009 at 3:43 am
Excellent point, JCC!
Cheers.
April 2, 2009 at 7:58 am
because people were insulted… perhaps not you or DJB, but others were, and it was directed to those that were insulted
April 3, 2009 at 12:58 am
nakabangga ka ng tao accidentally without meaning to, di ba mag-sorry ka pa rin?
the guy is just being diplomatic: he finds it difficult to give a discourse on satire to anyone who doesn’t understand what it is. did he say, ‘am sorry’, or ’sorry na lang kayo’?
okay, okay, am leaving with adebrux before another pair of shoes come hurling past me.
April 2, 2009 at 5:03 am
an apology to a country that may need more insults, could mean that cheap tsao did it purposely, recklessly and knowingly. is there any organization of maids or servants in the Philippines? an organization with a common purpose to maintain dignity and respect among its members can be a group that can actually sue or file charges against the HK magazine for emotional distress, racial discrimination or organization’s discrimination and many more. It is how you interpret the article. Your group may be able to have common reason ( REASONABLE among you ) to sue. Conditional threat such as discriminative statement can be treated differently in TORT law.
wanna discuss it? :)
April 2, 2009 at 5:35 am
Ethnic or racial slur already in a textbook:
Globalization: theory and practice by Eleonore Kofman, Gillian Youngs – Published by Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003
ISBN 0826454739, 9780826454737 – Political Science – 313 pages
(emphasis mine)
—–
Read in Kofman’s book…tsimay system?
Mui tsai
April 2, 2009 at 5:47 am
More on Jan Jindy Pettman’s chapter on International Sex and Service (Chapter 11 of Kofman’s book):
April 2, 2009 at 6:06 am
Further on Pettman’s chapter…
April 2, 2009 at 8:10 am
its not a slur, because its not saying (literally) that RP is a nation of servants.
the key word is “identification”, the previous paragraph brings context:
i paraphrase… “At the same time, stories of suffering…to deploy women’s bodies TO STAND IN FOR THE NATIONAL POLITY…” (emphasis mine)…
so its a figurative literary device, where the part stands for the whole (this device has a name, but it escapes me…)…
April 2, 2009 at 8:36 am
yes, “a nation of servants” is not a slur per se that’s why i italicized “ethnic or racial slur” in my first post. it depends mainly on one’s point of view.
anyway, i didn’t find chip tsao’s article offensive and, in truth:
April 2, 2009 at 9:03 am
I’m from Hong Kong, but I have to say “F%$& CHIP TSAO” and anyone who defends him. That clown is giving us a bad name and I say we boycott all his publications, stop buying the newspapers and magazines who hires him to write.
I as a Chinese, cannot in good conscience, support him in anyway by picking up or buying any company that is bankrolling him, because if I do, I’d be supporting this racist idiot financially and in a way, help him spread his message of hate!
CHEAP SHOT CHIP TSAO does not represent the opinion of the Hong Kong people. FUCK CHIP TSAO!
April 2, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Let me give a little perspective…again
Years ago (I hope things have changed), many Filipinos would take great exception (that’s putting it mildly) to pictures and presentations of Filipinos wearing Igorot and other minority costumes. They feared it would make them appear as “savages” in Western eyes.
Then we had that whole Leftist twaddle about the the use of ethnography to objectify the Filipino and reinforce our national inferiority complex and colonial mentality.
Today, Filipinos do not have the same reaction to depictions of Filipinos in minority costumes. We’re proud of the dances of the Bayanihan and of the ethnic music of our artists. Our Igorots have an international association and they get together in local chapters around the world to revel in their culture, complete with costumes and singing. No non-Igorot Filipino would dare say that they are “savages.” (I know that some are still sensitive to the St. Louis Expo, where Filipinos were portrayed in “native” circumstances to show the American colonizer in the best possible light. But what on earth did one expect? Besides, it happened a long time ago)
The national reaction to the “nation of servants” quip reflects EXACTLY THE SAME MENTALITY that was displayed many years ago by those Filipinos who would wince at pictures of Igorots. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. IT IS FEAR OF HOW WE WILL BE SEEN BY OTHERS RATHER THAN AUTHENTIC PRIDE IN OURSELVES THAT GENERATES THIS SHALLOW RESPONSE. The only possible reason for this reaction is that we are ourselves ashamed of having so many maids working overseas.
And as I mentioned earlier somewhere else, a fellow kababayan commentator described us as a nation brought up by yayas. It made some people squirm, but otherwise seems to have passed on into the cybergrave of forgotten quotes.
I join all others who did not feel offended by this Chinese fellow’s flat-footed satire. I am proud of our millions of sisters who work hard and honestly for their families as maids in other people’s homes.
Now that there’s been an apology, let’s let the thing go. Unless, of course, you want to hold the Philippines to the same standard (I, for one, will never apologize for anything any Filipino writer would write about another country or people. That would not be my responsibility. Go through the record who is being racist and insensitive)
Really, our patriotism really ought to be made of sterner stuff.
April 2, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Marcelo read this:
So you are parsing Cheap Taho’s apology which is not actually an apology but an explanation that the word servant is not derogagrory because that’s the way government officials are called, in Hongkong “servants”.
But that is not the context for which he used the word “servant” in his article. Here read it:
“x x x 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.”
Nowhere that insult is the idea that the word “servants” was used in the context of “government servant” and government officials in Hongkong by the way, can always flex their muscles anytime. So if you read the servants as used in the article to mean also “government servants” and accept the explanation, eh, “gunggong na lang talaga tayo”.
But this is my point. If some 130,000 Pinay maids are working in Hongkong as maids out of 95 Million Pinoys why would that make us a nation of servants? And read further, inasmuch as we are a nation of servants, we cannot flex our muscles against your master from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
Look at the use of the word “servants” and “most”. The article derogates other OFW’s working in the Middle East, US, France, England and other parts of the world who contributed in no small degree in making our economy afloat not as homeservants but nurses, doctors, PT’s, construction workers, engineers, IT workers, artists, and small enterpreneurs.
Marcelo,
Colonial mentality and inferiority complex, on the contrary are the hallmarks of those who read nothing wrong in Cheap Taho’s article of insult.
April 3, 2009 at 1:11 am
jcc,
did you read the article in its entirety?
did you read the article in its entirety?
did you read the article in its entirety?
and do you know the title of his column?
April 3, 2009 at 3:08 am
inidoro ng bayan,
go to ding gagelonia’s blog, Midfield, the entire article is there and the subsequent paragraphs are more insulting. go read it yourself.
April 2, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Listen to what he has to say
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/backchat/20090401.html
April 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Whether Chip Tsao cross the line between satirical humor and racism is not the urgent issue. The man already apologized (whether he was forced or not), and his Pinay servant is treated well. It doesn’t change the fact that Hong Kong still provides jobs for Filipinos.
The real issues are the Spratlys, and the insufficient jobs/ income in the Philippines. These 2 issues have very dangerous consequences.
China is one of the world’s cradle of military learning ( History’s greatest in military such as Genghis Khan, Hitler, MacArthur, etc learned something that originated from China). I suggest that Filipinos think deeply about a military confrontation with them.
The inability of Filipinos of providing sufficient jobs/ income for himself is far serious than Chip Tsao. We say the problem is the corrupt Philippine government. But also deserving introspection, are these deep foundational matters:
1.)The industries of Spanish–conquered nations are heavy on Arts & Entertainment rather than industrial. These arts & entertainment industries are non-urgent, non-function, and can not be sold in the international market. On the other hand, the $840 billion worth of Philippine mining is dominated by foreign investors. It’s common sense, big-time source of income/ jobs goes to somebody else.
2.) Filipino Malay heritage (outside of colonial Spain & United States) in commerce, industries, engineering, and philosophies (pertaining to commerce/ industries) did not reach that stage where it’s capable of producing jobs for himself.
The reason why the Filipinos are global in employment is because of the modern education given by the United States, an external force. The Filipinos didn’t figure out modern education, which happens to be the main weapon to seek jobs elsewhere.
I say forgive & forget Chip tsao and focus on these deep foundational matters, because they are very humbling and are next to impossibility to fix.
April 3, 2009 at 3:15 am
Marcelo,
Think small and you will feel small.
June 10, 2009 at 12:50 am
Arts and Entertainment are big representatives of a country’s culture. Why ignore it? We could make bucks out of it…if only people will be willing to. it is a very good medium in preserving one’s culture and documenting it.
Educardo massferre, during his times photographed Igorot women and was acknowledges first outside the Philippines. Only during the Tagalization of the philippines was he recognized because during his early years, a lot of Filipinos looked down on Igorots like Candy Pangilinan does
Which briongs me to the question: everybody’;s concerned about what Alec baldwin or Chip Tsao has to say but seems that never one would even raise the reality of discrimination INSIDE the Philippines
Candy Pangilinan: “Tao ako, Hindi Igorot”
A slip of a tongue it might be but this tactlessness reflects that a lot of Pinoys especially in the entertainment media don’t still view Igorots are normal people or equals.
April 3, 2009 at 3:37 am
jcc,
you should read the whole article to get the whole context. did you notice these lines?
“complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary.”
“by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day.”
The first line is an obvious hyperbole oozing with sarcasm intended to cut both ways. one does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure this out.
the second is a criminal offense in any part of the world unless properly compensated. do you think a person in the stature of Chip Tsao would risk criminal prosecution of labor laws violation by making such declaration against self-interest? for what?
and read the last paragraph, especially the last sentence:
“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.”
can you not see the satire?
April 3, 2009 at 4:09 am
pulis na pogi,
the first line is full with sarcasm and arrogance. he knows that RP cannot take the Spratleys if China would insist that she owns the island.
the second line is another insult that he can exploit Pilipina maid working 16 hours a day and with cheap pay.
where does it say that in Hongkong you cannot violate their wage laws. are you part of hongkong labor department?
but apparently you have not addressed the insult about we as a “nation of servants”.
April 3, 2009 at 4:26 am
so to get back at our attempt to take the Spratleys aided by hawkisk Obama, Cheap Taho and his hordes of arrogant Chinese would make Pinay maid hostage in their own homeland and even before the eventuality crops up, indoctrinate these maids now to shout China, Sir/Madam, whenever the word Spratelys is ever mentioned.
If you find satire, I find insult from the first paragraph to the last. And don’t tell me that I do not know my english nor cannot appreciate a satire from plain insult, sarcasm and arrogance.
Please stick to your main issue that he actually did apologize because “servants” in his article means “government servants”.
April 3, 2009 at 4:50 am
Pulis na POgi,
Even as a satire, the article already crosses over the line of civilities. If you feel that any stranger in the remote island of Hongkong can tell right on your face that you are but nation of servants who cannot flex your muscle and feel proud about it, please do not begrudge others who felt different.
Here is wiki’s definition of a satire:
Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although, in practice, it is also found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement.[1] Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.
A very common, almost defining feature of satire is its strong vein of irony or sarcasm, but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. The essential point, however, is that “in satire, irony is militant”.[2] This “militant irony” (or sarcasm) often professes to approve the very things the satirist actually wishes to attack.
April 3, 2009 at 9:07 am
jcc,
i think we (you and i) are in a situation where we both see the same thing but have entirely different interpretations. lets leave it at that. i can go on with this argument and defend my position that that article of Chip Tsao is pro Filipino and we are a nation too fickle-minded to understand and appreciate that. But that will be useless considering the spectrum of possibilities.
think as you like. i will do the same…
April 3, 2009 at 9:20 am
PULIS,
No problem. This is democracy, everybody is entitled to his opinion. I can even respect one’s opinion even if he happens not to respect mine, but in your case, your seem to respect mine I as respect yours. :)
April 4, 2009 at 2:07 am
Naturally, of course…the magazine will apologize because some claimed to have been “slighted” by it. And since the mag relies on sales, any claim of “insult” will be detrimental to its intrinsic value and integrity. What with all of HK Mag’s pretensions of “championing the rights of Filipinos working in Hong Kong.” It’s a coffee-table mag…a lifestyle trinket to pass your time. It’s NOT La Solidaridad! It’s meant to entertain…not propagate The Big Lie. And since, some claimed to have been “unentertained” by it, from a publishing business’ standpoint, an apology is in order.
But seriously, it’s way too immature (if not whiningly childish) for our culture to react to things like these. If it’s true, then we should remedy it…if not, it hardly merits national attention. The more we react to it, the more we betray something else…which is really far from what really desire at the end of the day. We end up more foolish than the initial cause of the hubbub.
April 5, 2009 at 1:00 am
#
This is in response to Mr. Chip Tsao. In my on colloquial dialect, Chip means cheap and Tsao because of the letter T means saw saw. To submerged then leak it. Other meaning, To vomit and Tsao or chew it back. No wonder his name reflect his own writing, character and image.
I regret for him and describe him as a faded author, a loser of his own generation. He has a crab mentality, tried to climb up for quick return and publicity. He use his influence and flex his muscle to find his missing link. He considered himself patriotic and proudly declaring to have his assistant working with him 16 hours daily… barbaridad!…an angel of death. One more thing he plan another extra hours to his assistant just to tell and shout in the Square “China, Spratly, Sir/Madam in return for an increase salary to his assistant. Wow.. not compulsory but necessary. What`s that a passive income?
I wonder why Mr Cheap Saw saw echoing his claim. In his credentials I assume he is an educated man, yet unwise. He failed one thing “common sense”. He claimed himself NOT patriotic but chaotic, because he created havoc and shame not only to the Filipinos but also Chinese people, especially the “Chinoy” or Filipino Chinese.
Geographically, China is a vast country and densely populated. Other people lives in lakes, river banks and other called the boat people. Others were Li Mahongs Pirate crew roaming in the Malacca straight. Others went to migrate to Taiwan under the leadership of Dr. Sun Yat Sen the Koumintang party. Others came to the Philippines and in order to gain status married our sisters. Because of their ability to barter, trade, business like gambling, five six lending with collateral, they flourish like a wild fire. They paid to the government “axe” or taxes. Meaning the paid sub standard taxes. For example, delivery of goods had been issued partial receipt just encase there were a spot checking in roads and hi ways.
To Mr. Cheap, stop Barking like Dogs. And don`t race your own tail. Now you are waggling your tail by asking an apology.
Conclusion
I hope history will not repeat itself. We Filipinos, must take action, before it is Saba. At present the Spratly. Don`t tell me Mr Cheap that next is Binondo, Manila`s China Town.
April 7, 2009 at 2:29 am
CHIP TSAO IS JUST A SKIN DEEP ISSUE, just like Mariah Carey’s (brown Monkey), Howard Stern’s (Filipinas on prostitution), Desperate Housewives (Diplomas)—They will all be forgotten.
THE ABILITY OF FILIPINOS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT JOBS FOR HIM/HERSELF WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG LONG TIME!
Filipinos, show character and focus on the problem where it matters!
April 7, 2009 at 5:10 am
oops, I mean the INABILITY of the Filipinos to provide sufficient jobs is the problem. This is not just a government issue, but an issue of culture.
Chip Tsao’s comments will be forgotten, but our inabilities will always be there if not addressed.
April 9, 2009 at 2:56 am
Dang,
If you are not happy with how HK treats you – get the f*ck out and return to the Philippines.
Then you can b*tch about how the Philippines treats you.. ROTFLMAO.
August 10, 2009 at 3:24 pm
nice to serve and work to foreign land but be sure we know to fight our freedom not always say yes though its foul at least they also learned from us.
April 1, 2009 at 6:10 pm
That is very good development!
April 1, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I think he said “nation of servants” not “maid-country”. Where did you get that Modern Patriot?