While Philippine consulate officials seem appeased by the recent apology of Hong Kong columnist Chip Tsao’s apology even asking the government to lift the travel ban against Tsao, more than 1,000 Filipinos marched through Hong Kong to protest against Tsao who described the Philippines as a “nation of servants” in a satirical article.
Chanting “No to racism. No to Discrimination” and carrying banners with slogans such as “We are workers, not slaves,” the demonstrators marched through the city to challenge the recent article by Tsao in HK Magazine.
Tsao had raised hackles by writing that Manila’s claims to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea were ridiculous in the face of Beijing’s rival territorial claims.
“As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter,” he wrote.
The comments angered a large chunk of the more than 120,000 Filipinos who live in Hong Kong, mostly as low-paid domestic workers.
The community has become increasingly vocal in recent years through church groups and other organisations, and regularly holds protests against unfair treatment or poor working conditions.
Tsao’s column has sparked huge resentment here and in the Philippines, which has banned him from entering, even after he insisted the column was meant as a satire and apologized if it caused any offence.
The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong asked the government to lift the travel ban against Tsao who was earlier declared to be an unwanted alien.
Philippine officials in Hong Kong recommended that Tsao be taken out of the Bureau of Immigration’s blacklist of foreigners who are banned from entering the country since he already apologized to the Filipino people.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is still reviewing the consulate’s proposal.
“In view of the recent formal apology by Mr. Chip Tsao, the DFA is studying the recommendation of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong for the Bureau of Immigrationto lift the ban on the possible entry of Tsao to the Philippines,” the DFA said in a statement.
“We acknowledge the apology of Chip Tsao and we take this action today as the expression of the community that we do not want this thing to happen again,” Dolores Balladares, chairwoman of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, told AFP.
“As Filipino migrant workers, we do not tolerate any racism or discrimination attacking the Filipinos.”
Balladares said the rally was also in protest at other discrimination in Hong Kong, such as the possible exclusion of migrant workers from an upcoming minimum wage law in the city.
“Every day the domestic workers experience discrimination,” she said, adding that the column had been a symbol of discrimination.
The diplomatic dispute over the Spratlys, believed to sit atop vast mineral and oil deposits, was renewed early last month when China sent a patrol vessel to the area.
The move came after the Philippines passed a law laying claim to some of the disputed islands in the Spratlys chain. Beijing has called the law “illegal and invalid”.
The chain of atolls and reefs is also claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
During his personal visit to the consulate last April 1 to apologize for his article, Tsao, who branded the Philippines as a “nation of servants” and made snide comments against Filipino domestic helpers in his column, indicated interest to visit the country some day.
Miffed by the Tsao’s March 27 column, “The War At Home,” the Philippine Bureau of Immigration declared Tsao persona non grata and included him in a blacklist of foreign and unwelcome fugitives who are barred from entering the Philippines. The BI said Tsao will remain in the list until he issues a public apology.
Tsao explained he had “never intended to demean any particular group when he wrote the article, whose aim was to poke fun at local authorities and other sectors,” the consulate said.
He also acknowledged that he “had crossed the line,” and was “terribly sorry” for what he did.
After his brief address, Tsao stood up and bowed before a group of more than a hundred Filipinos composed of household service workers, religious groups, non-government organizations and professionals. AFP
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