The Malu Fernandez controversy

Game over. Tapos na. Nag resign na sya.

I read this controversy here. No comment ako when I read the blog. I am neither of the two. I am not an OFW and I am not a jetsetter. The conflict is all about point of view.

Sabi ni Malu na nagpapatawa lang daw at may specific target audience sya. Syempre para sa mga nasaktang OFWs, hindi acceptable yung explanation ni Malu at mas lalung na insulto yung mga OFWs, at least those who wre very vocal against her. Sabi ni Malu, she was just stating facts. Pero the way she presented her facts ang naging offensive. Clash pa rin ng point of view yan. Sino ang tama at mali? Depende sa point of view.

From personal experience, I did feel embarassed being Filipino when I boarded a flight back to Manila from Bangkok. Nakasabay ko yung mga so called byahera. They buy stuff from Bangkok and bring it to Manila to re sell. Para makatipid, iha hand carry nila yung malalaking plastic bags na punong punong ng pinamili nila. Hindi na hand carry yun kundi hila hila luggage. PInagtitinginan sila ng ibang pasahero pero paki nila. Wala silang pakialam. Ang sa kanila, naghahanapbuhay lang sila.

Again point of view yan. Wala akong karapatang sabihihan ang mga byahera na i check in nalang nila yung mga bagahe nila para hindi nakakahiya. Ang airline lang ang may karapatan nun kaso tinotolerate.

Hindi ko pa na experience yung mag byahe na maraming nakasabay na OFW. Ini imagine ko, siguro ang ingay sa eroplano. Ganun na lang siguro kaingay ang kwentuhan at tawanan. Sa point of view ng mga OFW, wag silang pakialaman dahil excited silang maka uwi. Pero sa mga tulad ni Malu, nakaka irita ang ganitong sitwasyon. Kaso ang nasulat ni Malu ay yung tungkol sa pabango na may halong kahambugan kaya pinagtulungan sya.

I can imagine where both sides are coming from. Paradigm shift is a two way traffic, not just one way. Malu should have been sensitive enough to understand why OFWs behave the way they do. At the same time, OFWs (this is just an assumptiion based on my byahera experience) to be more considerate of other passengers trying to get some sleep in the plane by keeping their voices low. The problem is labeling. Ang problema sa ilang OFW nagiging reflection nang buong OFW community.

At the end of the day, I believe Malu Fernandez has no intention to malign. Unfortunately, offensive naman talaga yung sinulat nya kung sa point of view ng OFWs titignan. It's good Malu resigned. At least nagkaroon ng closure for this particular issue.