The Philippine Online Chronicles

Share this Twitter Digg Del.icio.us Reddit Yahoo Googlize this Facebook Export PDF Print E-mail

"As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter," Hong Kong journalist Chip Tsao wrote in his March 27 column for HK Magazine. He was referring to the Philippines, which had lately passed a controversial baselines bill including the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by China, as part of its territory under a "regime of islands." Tsao also added that he berated his Filipino domestic helper over the Spratly dispute and told her that he would fire her and send her home if war broke out between the Philippines and China.
The column, entitled "The War at Home," triggered an uproar among Filipinos. According to Inquirer.net, it generated at least four pages of comments, most of them indignant protests against its "racist" tone.

Legislators have spoken out strongly against the column. Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Francis Escudero called on the government to formally protest. Tsao should not shame Filipino overseas workers "for their hard work and diligence in contributing to our country," Zubiri said. The Philippine government should take legal action against Tsao if need be, Escudero added. Tsao and the magazine should issue public apologies, said Senator Pia Cayetano, who also noted that the Spratly dispute should be "threshed out and resolved" in the proper forum. "Ignorance, hatred and racial bias are the last things we need in approaching this long-standing controversy," she stated. Muntinlupa Congressman Ruffy Biazon was for declaring Tsao a "persona non grata."

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde called the column "reprehensible." Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Edgardo Malaya said Tsao's remarks were "uncalled for," but that they represented only "the view of one person." Nevertheless, he said, the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong was looking into appropriate action regarding the matter.

Blogger Walter Balane wrote that the Chip Tsao issue was not just about the Spratly dispute but was "more personal." "I understand nationalism is a very sensitive subject if you talk in the family of nations but [Tsao] should also be responsible enough that he writes for international audiences," he pointed out. "If he meant to insult the Philippine government, then he should only do so and keep Filipinos in general at a space of respect."

Other Filipino bloggers were not so restrained. "I want to chop Chip Tsao. He insulted a nation. I am part of that nation," writes a blogger who calls himself Pastilan. Puns on Tsao's name abound, such as Cheap Tsao and Cheap Chow. Blogger Fernando Gagelonia more succinctly called him something else.

HK magazine issued an apology on 30 March 2009, saying that the column was meant to be satirical, and that they have nothing but respect for Filipinos. Tsao, however, has yet to issue any apology, says the Philippine Star, which adds that according to Immigration Commissioner Marcelo Libanan, Tsao has been blacklisted from entering the country. Tsao was "a little shocked" about the response to his column, the Philippine Star says, but said that it was his "style of writing" and that the readers should take it easy. Tsao, said to be known for being "provocative," has already been hit by outraged readers for a previous column. His 3 October 2008 column also "satirizes" Filipinos.

The "War at Home" article is no longer on HK Magazine's website, but reposts may be found here and here.


Photo of Filipina housemaids in Hong Kong sitting in a box by Paul Keller on flickr; licensed under Creative Commons License BY-2.0.