By the Victorina Council

The blog world rocked in 2008 when one wronged man dared to use the internet to serve his own brand of justice. In one corner, alleged estafador and issuer of bouncing checks, Delfin Justiniano “DJ” Montano, in the other, internet denizen Brian Gorrell.

But more than just trailblazing, Brian Gorrell’s crusade revealed the soft underbelly of Manila high society’s young and restless. Where society columns and lifestyle magazines held up these alta sociedad scions as icons of breeding and good taste, Brian Gorrell held up his own mirror and reflected coke parties, conspiracies to commit estafa, kidnapping, serious physical injuries and other secret crimes.

Revelation after revelation began to hurt or hit other members of the by now infamous Gucci Gang and Montano took action. He went on television and had himself interviewed together with his mother to tell his side of the story. But the interview was ephemeral and whatever opinions could have been swayed by it, was somehow negated by the seeming permanence of the internet.

So soon enough, Montano did, as any good Gucci Gang member does when the going gets tough – he left the country and headed for the United States and parts unknown.

The story doesn’t end here though.

Montano remains un-prosecuted for the crimes he allegedly committed against Brian Gorrell. Furthermore, uncorroborated information received by this website indicates that Montano is in the United States illegally. No investigation can be conducted into Montano’s alleged offenses until he is within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. We, the Victorina council, have carefully gathered the necessary evidence to press charges!

In the United States, if the information is true, he is breaking immigration laws. Isn’t it time somebody stopped him?

Thus Victorina enters into a new advocacy to help our friend Brian Gorrell: FIND DJ MONTANO.

Any information on the whereabouts or sightings of Montano leading to his deportation (if indeed he is illegally staying in the US) will be appreciated and rewarded.

Our “High-Society” reward with PRICE tags (all donated and will be shipped via Western Union) fit for the lifestyle pages of Supreme:

1 pair of Chocolate cord Sass & Bide Jeans $ 170.00

1 Calvin Klein denim $199.00
1 Ted Baker Halter print top Retail Size small $139.00
1 Escada 100% lime green skirt $899.00

1 diamond pendant $200.00

By: Kitty Go

Much has been publicized and debated about how Filipino overseas workers (OFW) are treated abroad. However, the nightmare of working abroad does not start in a foreign country but right in the Philippines, by the very people who process their employment applications. I have no proof of it but you don’t need to be a political science major to also surmise that these ‘employment agencies’ clearly get the privilege of shafting their fellowmen thanks to ‘cooperation’ from the government and other concerned parties.

My helpers have not been victims of these agencies because we pay for all their fees and documentary expenses and they have an employer who is vigilant and knowledgeable. (Read: a bitch) The only way I can illustrate how employment agencies try to cheat both employers and employees from my own experience.

We hired our helper Nora in Taiwan by taking over the contract she had with our neighbors. Unlike Hong Kong where rules are transparent, Taiwan is more like the Philippines where there are more gray, pink and blue areas than black and white. This is why it makes an excellent place for dishonest Philippine agencies to do business and establish equally dishonest partnerships.

When my husband and I were moving back to Hong Kong in 2003, we decided to take Nora with us. Under Taiwanese law, we were simply required to pay the Taiwan agency the equivalent of one month’s official wages, 15,000 NT (about 430 USD). Employment, rental and all other contracts, are under my husband’s name. This would also include domestic helper contracts.

My husband happens to be British, therefore we filed with a “western’ last name. What else?

After I sent in my application, Nora was told by the Taiwan agency that the cost will not be 15,000 NT but 70,000 NT (about 2000 USD). I got on the phone and spoke to them in Chinese asking for a breakdown of the total cost. I also told them I was originally from the Philippines. The Taiwanese agent told me that we had to buy Nora’s plane ticket from them, she had to have a medical, documentation fees and other (what I thought were padded) costs. If we were already paying them almost 500 USD for processing, plus let’s say another 400 USD (tops!) for a plane ticket (Taiwan-Manila-Manila-Hong Kong). That would be 900-1000 USD. Why were they charging me 2000 USD???

The agency later called Nora and told her that they would bring the total cost down to 50,000 NT (about 1400 USD) because they realized her employer wasn’t ‘white.’ Can you f..k.n’ believe this!!!????

Now that they had to deal with me who ‘was not white,” they decided to reduce the price probably thinking I would not be stupid or careless enough to pay over twice the lawful amount.

I called the Taiwan agent back wanting further explanation for the still high fees and telling them that not only was I Chinese from the Philippines, I was also a journalist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the South China Morning Post, two major papers in two major cities where overseas employment is sourced and provided. (Of course I didn’t let on that I only wrote fashion and that I hadn’t written for those papers is years!)

They finally brought the total Taiwan agency fees to –hold on to your ATM cards---less than 25,000 NT (700 USD). But there was more shafting yet to come from---wait for it----Manila!! As we like to say, “Only in the Philippines!” can people bring themselves to cheat their own and the very people who support the economy.

Everyday for three months, I screamed at an agent named Grace until Nora boarded her plane for Hong Kong. Why processing took three months, I don’t know!

Nora had to undergo medical exams even if at that time she had already been working with us for three years. I think we spent about another 10,000 pesos in Manila. Then there was a ‘bondage fee’ which I questioned and I explained to them that we have no need of a bondage fee because a) Nora is NOT A SLAVE and b) she has no intention to run away from us. In fact, she wants to continue working for us.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the rule before we arrived was that employers of Filipino helpers could process their own applications with the Philippine Consulate. This being Hong Kong, I thought it would be easy for me to do it myself.

But nnnhhoooo!!!!!

The new rule was, every new hire would cost 3500 HKD inagency fees. My agent told me this was ‘the gift of the last consul to the HK agents.” A F.CK.N” GIFT!!!???? Since when does a consul give a ‘gift to agents???”

After going back and forth on the fees, the Manila office finally removed the bondage and documentation fees. They also wanted Nora to sign some contract that she ‘owed’ them X-amount of money for application when everything was being paid for by her employers! They wanted to charge me a ‘training’ fee but I screamed, “I trained her!! In fact, Nora is good enough to give classes at your agency.” We settled for an ‘assessment test’ for about 1000 pesos where they gave Nora the answers. Then the agency in Manila had a fire.

But get this. Nora’s file was intact because according to Grace, “Linagay ko sa pinakamataas na cabinet kasi nag-bayad kayo in full.” JOS KO----you mean if I didn’t pay in full, my maid’s file would have been ashes???

Finally, the day before Nora was supposed to leave for Hong Kong, Grace called me and here is the funny part of our conversation. I can laugh now but I was fuming then so much I could have set off another fire through the phone:

Grace: Hello, Ma’am Kitty? Kailangan niyo pa ba ng isa pang katulong?

Kitty: Grace? P..ang i.a..Ano na naman. If you tell me Nora is not getting on the plane and I’m going to have to get someone else, I will kill you, sue you and call Ted Failon and the Inquirer (not that they were going to help)!

Grace: Hindi po. Okay si Nora. Sana mag-aapply rin ako ng maid sa inyo.

Kitty: I think the fumes of the fire have affected your brain.

She later told Nora that she thought it would be nice to work for an ‘amo’ who made laban for their maid and paid all the fees. Ah…Ganoon ha???

Many OFWs do not have the benefit of employers paying their fees. In Hong Kong, if a new OFW domestic helper wants to work in Hong Kong, the NON-REFUNDABLE application fee is about 80,000 pesos. To Canada and the UK it is about 200-300,000 pesos. One of my friends who is a lawyer in LA told me that a Filipino teacher applying for a job in the Texas school system would be set back about 500,000 pesos. I can imagine how much they charge for doctors and nurses.

No wonder these people have to borrow money from their whole baranggay and spend their entire lives paying them back.

Then there is the story of Monica, Nora’s sister who I also hired to work for me in Hong Kong. When we hired Monica, the only requirement then was 3500 HKD (440 USD) which was paid to the Hong Kong agent. Of course, in Manila, Monica was asked for 80,000 HKD but she knew the law, ingrained into her by her future bitch employer. If she was a direct hire from Hong Kong (meaning I am hiring her specifically), she does not need to pay 80,000 HKD. However, they had to shaft her with a ‘medical test’ and ‘training’ for 5000 pesos. Again, I told the agency, she doesn’t need to undergo training by them because she alreadytrained with the best----moi!

We again settled for an ‘assessment test’ for 1000 pesos (with answers). The last straw and I hate to admit defeat, was when we were charged 5000 pesos for Fedex for us to sign and return Monica’s contract.

We were told that if it didn’t go Fedex, there would be no deal.

by: Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig

Media critics are almost in consensus that media failed in its coverage of the death of the wife of Ted Failon, one of media’s most popular figures, and the accompanying police investigation. Prof. Luis Teodoro, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, agreed. “It was a bit overdone especially on the part of ABS-CBN. There were stories that were repeated.”

Not so long ago, the death of actor Rico Yan brought forth a superfluous national outpour of grief propelled by television. Yan’s home station never made any investigation to the real cause of the actor’s death. In its aftermath, print-media took stock to the hype and became critical of ABS-CBN. Just the same, print media had its own share of cannibalized melodrama. The Gucci Gang deliberately flexed its muscle by writing and somewhat capitalizing on the sudden death of their dearly departed friend. Pages upon pages of their supposed “lifestyle” section were dedicated to their friends passing for reasons still unknown to the general public. A “cannibalism of grief” as some would say; a case of canonizing or denying ones guilt if I may say.

Similarly, ABS-CBN displayed the same unusual diligence in chronicling the Failon tragedy. Neither police nor ABS-CBN were able to show any kind of professional detachment in the case,” Vergel Santos said. He added that there was too much focus on Failon when the focus should have been more on his wife, Trina. Santos also said the coverage was a test for ABS-CBN and other media “to apply the same standards of seeming restraint to cases involving other people.” “I detect an undue interest here because Ted is an ABS-CBN talent,” added Santos.

Maybe we have to identify key elements that influence the news treatment here:

1. ABS-CBN, a giant multimedia company, has a history of being a media bully and fierce in protecting its interests. Just last week, I saw Julius Babao act like Judge Dredd and use his ABS-CBN cameras to torment and bully a SUSPECTED adulterer in the TV show XXX.

2. Ted Failon has signified intentions of running for the Senate, and thus the news has subtle political colors to it. The fact that journalists turned politicos may raise eyebrows when it comes to ethics and professionalism.

3. ABS-CBN and other media seemed to connect the hasty and messy investigation to that – hinting that the police used the death of Failon’s wife to get back at the broadcaster.

4. The family’s behavior during and after the apparent suicide of Trina Etong were grounds for further suspicion, including the clean-up, the media interviews.

5. Our police are not really known to be efficient in crime investigation, how much more in forensic science. Our public has been sharpened by watching CSI episodes, they know what efficient police work should be.

Given all this, it is understandable that the news becomes a media circus. But it is also time for media to do some introspection and assess its role and responsibilities to the public when it comes to reporting facts.

In its handling and treatment of the Ted Failon – Trina Etong news story, ABS-CBN did not act like a responsible news media, it is acting like a godfather protecting its favorite son.

For that, Victorina joined the people in saying:

ABS-CBN FAILED again!

by:Boldstar

“I can no longer understand Tagalog” declared Arlan Cruz Calderon. Arriving at the international airport, he and his wife Sarah were only entertaining the throngs of Japanese media waiting for them after they were deported from Japan. Both entered Japan on false documents 13 years ago when they were in their mid 20’s.

They were what you’d call TNT short for ‘tago ng tago’ a Filipino word for ‘hide’. TNT embodies the illegal status of some Filipinos in many countries. Generally, most TNTs came through legally with valid visas but decided to stay beyond their visa validity, and thus overstaying illegally -- in hiding. Some enter countries with falsified documents circumventing due process such as prior conviction and exclusion making ineligible for immigration approval. Most if not all know that once they are caught, they are subject to deportation.

In the case of the Calderons, Japan deported the Filipino couple simply because it is the Law. Amidst the hullabaloo, Japan has to maintain its policy. Let’s face it - the couple entered Japan on false passports when they were in their early to mid 20’s. Why? In addition, is it the government’s fault that while the Calderons were hiding and protected by relatives, they gave birth to a child who, now at 13 years, is entitled for citizenship? For me, it is a preposterous notion for the Calderon’s to expect the Japanese to grant them citizenship. If that’s the case, countries must do away with their respective border controls. People can just come in, hide for say 10 to 15 years and surface expecting entitlements  afforded to  legal citizens.

We ought to have respect for Japan, and its people to uphold their laws.

And why should Japan grant the Calderons or any TNT a residency for that matter? From how the Calderons conducted themselves, they are not exactly oozing with loyalty, good morals and upstanding character. It is an absolute disgrace to speak deficiently of your own birth country because it does not reflect on the people and the nation as a whole but of the Calderon’s opportunistic nature. It is immoral, like selling your own mother. We all do silly things in times of great misfortune but calling the Philippines hell and a rotten place neither create favorable reflections on their characters nor influences a granting of clemency on their appeal. It just made them look malevolent.

And so now Sarah and Arlan Cruz Calderon are back in the Philippines pretending to be Japanese who can only speak Nihongo. They acted with so much disdain and pretension that if I were their immigration officer, I would have declared them persona non-grata. What an insult to the nation. It is extremely disgusting. If I were to decide whether to grant them future Japanese residency, I would take this insult as a reflection of the nefariousness of their characters.

I take a firm stance against illegal TNT’s because not only it is expensive for taxpayers, but it's difficult for many people who want to go through the legalities of sponsoring family members. In fact, many Filipino families have now been increasingly asked for a “bond” that amounts to paying the government thousands of dollars as collateral for an application to be approved.

As an immigrant myself, I have been in and out of the country since I was 13 years old. Almost two thirds of my life has been spent outside the Philippines, but I am still proud of being able to speak and understand 3 Visayan dialects and Tagalog. As for Calderon, maybe someone should spank him with tsinelas and see if he screams “aray!”

Calderon, who claims to no longer speak or understand his mother tongue, reminds me of one of my mother’s maids who went to Manila for greener pastures and later came back to her village acting all high and mighty, even asking how anyone could eat ‘dangit’ (a dried fish local delicacy which is my all-time favorite).

How pretentious! Someone did slap her silly and she screamed “pesteng yawa, aray!”

No matter how hard anyone may make “Tago ng Tago” and hide who he or she really is, one’s true colors will eventually surface… often slapping him or her in the face!

... And its not because of tourism, it’s the fault of poor governance?

Boracay is becoming a subject of ennui and nostalgia. We all have reached a point when we look back and preferred to “once upon a time” when the island resort was a picture perfect portrait of pristine beach. Now, for some people, Boracay is a bore. But we are looking for the rage.

Where is it?

Complaints of how overcrowded, polluted, abused, or damaged this nature paradise piles up year after year. But this year, it has reached new heights when even resort owners discouraged our company M2.0 from holding a corporate event there because “Boracay is too crowded this summer.”

Goodness, our friend Tiny will have difficulty looking for a private nook to do his thing with the local boys.

This is not a joke, and you can ask your friendly environmentalist to validate this: the island is sinking! The beachfront is significantly reduced to the point when some resorts have to build breakwaters to stop the erosion, which is the equivalent of putting a band-aid for internal hemorrhage.
Then there is the highway.

So just when you think the destruction of Boracay couldn't become any worse, especially since the PTA's recent "Storm Water Project" fiasco and the DENR's "Moratorium on Construction", which no one has taken any notice of or enforced, along comes the DPWH with their idea to "protect Boracay", a 8 meter wide concrete highway. They plan to build it right on the beach with a sea wall to protect the road, thus completely destroying the existing white sand beach. Their reason for this stupidity is to overcome the traffic congestion on the island, which will in turn allow more vehicles on Boracay.

And then there is the problem of garbage disposal and sewage. I doubt if Met Boy Richard Gutierrez who advocates (given millions of endorsements) to save Boracay, would allow his skin to be infected by those ecoli swimming in the waters.

Months ago, Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza has called for a six-month moratorium on development projects in Boracay Island to ensure sustainable development. “We need to restore order to the otherwise uncontrolled construction and introduction of new edifices and stop the over-stretching of the facilities especially the sewerage, water, drainage and power systems,” Atienza told the press.

He pointed out that because of the overcrowding and unhampered construction of buildings, some portions of the island are experiencing flooding especially during the rainy season.

Six months is such a short time to rehabilitate an island, but at least it’s a good start. However, it can’t be implemented. Why? Local government!

Atienza has no legal authority to stop the construction of new structures, as environment secretary, but he urged the municipal council of Malay, where Boracay is located, to pass a resolution suspending the issuance of permits to open up new business and construct new structures.

The steady increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay resulted in a construction boom there. Tourist arrivals last year reached 554,181, 10.96 percent higher than the 499,457 arrivals recorded in 2005, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT). In 2006, Boracay’s income from tourism reached P10.18 billion 24.44 percent higher than the P8.18 billion earnings in 2005 and that rate is steady for the next years. The booming business on the island pushed the price of lands near the famous white beach to at least P45,000 per square meter, said Orlando Sacay, chair of the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI). The BFI is a group of resort owners, hotels and restaurants on the island. Sacay said they fully supported the call for a moratorium on development projects “Each week, the municipal council receives five to six applications for building permits on the island. The island will sink if this goes on,” Sacay said in a telephone interview.

DoT regional director Edwin Trompeta said they would welcome a moratorium on development projects on the island but it should have the support of the DoT, PTA, local government units and the Boracay Eminent Persons Group, which is mandated to map out policies for the sustainable development of the island’s tourism industry.

In 2005, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano also proposed a moratorium on development projects in Boracay.

So, it seems everyone – foreign tourists, national government, tourist operators, investment consultants – agrees to hold a moratorium.

Why is it not being done?

Two words: Mayor Cawiling. In his hands lies the future of the island. As to why he has not signed an ordinance to rehabilitate the island is another issue of Victorina. But clearly, the guy does not know how to deal with his problem.

As one blogger said, “When will someone with ½ a brain be given control of the Philippines most prized tourist asset? Surely someone in the Government has an idea....or employ a western philosophy..."if you don't know....ask!" Well, the Mayor better have a good answer.

Maybe our friend Mike Defensor was right all along?

by: Rain B.


What reputation is Richard Gutierrez trying to protect?

We got it from reputable source that Tita Anabel considers her brood as THE ROYAL FAMILY in Philippine show business.

Royal pains in the ass if you ask my personal opinion.

Still, you can’t fault a family from trying to earn 25 millions from protecting their golden egg Richard Gutierrez from, hmmmm, being painted by media as “basagulero.”

After all, in the eyes of Mama, he is a noble prince.

Richard Gutierrez sues PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) for Libel and asks for 25 Million Pesos in Damages. Fresh from New York, USA, our hero went to the Makati City Regional Trial Court’s Prosecutor’s Office to file a case of Libel against Pep. Richard Gutierrez was accompanied by his parents Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, and siblings Ruffa Gutierrez and Raymond Gutierrez.

Also with them was Bubbles Paraiso (Of all people, "party" girl Bubbles Paraiso serves as witness!), who will serve as a witness in the case.

Richard Gutierrez went on to sue Pep because its editor-in-chief renege on their agreement that Pep will apologize for the alleged false incident and specifically make a denial that a scuffle happened between him and Michael Flores on director Mark Reyes birthday on March 28 at Oceana Restaurant’s Parking Lot.

Why is that act so offensive and potentially damaging to his person?

Richard replied, “Maraming artista ang nabibiktima ng ganitong klaseng false journalism at nagkataon lang na nangyari ito sa akin.

Hindi ako galit.

I feel bad and it saddens me na kailangang mangyari ito.

Kasi kaming mga artista, nagtatrabaho kami. You know, ang goal namin, magbigay-ligaya. Magbigay ng entertainment sa mga tao, tapos bigla na lang kami sasagasaan nang ganoon. Wala naman kaming ginagawang masama.First time ko na magsasampa ng kaso against anyone.

Gusto ko lang sabihin na matagal kong inalagaan, pinaghirapan ang pangalan ko.
Yung reputasyon ng pamilya namin, inaalagaan namin.”

But then again, Richard, can we just dissect what your PR content provider has given to you (and fire him quick!)

1. "Maraming artista ang nabibiktima ng ganitong klaseng false journalism."

What are you talking about?

This is the entertainment industry; you survive by being false!

In my personal opinion, your family managed to rise to the top because of the very same false journalism you are complaining about.

2. "Kasi kaming mga artista, nagtatrabaho kami.

You know, ang goal namin, magbigay-ligaya.

Wala naman kaming ginawang masama. "

Cut the crap Richard...

We all know that your goal is to make money and become rich.

And as to the “wala naman kaming ginawang masama”, let us not even go there, okay.
Or else we will be talking about a whole history of scandals and allegations of lies, deceit, prostitution, bigamy, that will make Tara Tambunting green with envy.

3. "Gusto ko lang sabihin na matagal kong inalagaan, pinaghirapan ang pangalan ko!
Yung reputasyon ng pamilya namin, inaalagaan namin."

Sigh! Let us face it, Sir Richard, you have reached a certain point when even you believe in your own lies. What reputation are you talking about?

Your family was involved in the Filmfest Scam of the Century.

Your last name is attached to one of the worst first-class prostitution allegation that merited a Philippine Senate hearing- ask Manong Ernie Maceda!

Even if Jo-An Maglipon issued an official apology for printing the news without validation of facts (that is another story though)

“To Richard Gutierrez, Michael Flores and Epy Quizon who were named at the story, to PEP readers who may have been confused........our sincerest apologies.”

Of course, Mr. Gutierrez was not appeased. He wanted to hurt the editor and the magazine by dragging them to court and asking them to pay.

Gosh, I am sure where this will lead to.

The lawyers will all realize that it will be more costly to allow the case to progress in court, some out-of-court settlements will be reached.

There will be a customary shaking of hands, and millions will be deposited in the bank accounts of the Royal Family.


Excuse my French, but that sucks!

Collectively i think, your family has hurt the reputation of the Filipino people more than you can possibly imagine Richard.

Did we ever ask one centavo from you to pay for moral damages?

After all, you are your mothers son...THINK ABOUT IT !

By: Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig

"the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.” wikipedia

Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros wrote a piece in his column pointing out that Chip Tsao’s article “is funny and witty.” De Quiros further added; “Frankly, I don’t know how we can fail to understand or appreciate satire. We have a robust tradition of it. Jose Rizal was past master at it, writing slyly, funnily and bitingly about the Spanish rulers, especially the friars. But maybe it’s not just that tradition we’re losing, or have lost, it’s the capacity to read itself. Ultimately that may be the true satirical, ironical and cruel footnote on us: We haven’t just become a nation of servants, we’ve become a nation of illiterates.”

During recent trips to Macau, Hong Kong and several other destinations in China, I became aware of the rising bigotry projected towards Filipinos. I wonder if such statements made by de Quiros help to uplift the image and spirits of the Filipino or do they just add to the disharmony and perpetual national insecurity among our brethren or worse… fuel the bigotry that so many Filipinos face day after day.

In one such trip, DJ Mojo found himself in Macau with his co-hosts of Good Times TV. It was a fun excursion for the group as they imbibed the sights and sounds of the gambling capital of the East. While the sabbatical was for the most part enjoyable for the DJ’s, I cannot forget one experience DJ Mojo recounted to me.

While walking around Macau on a simple day tour, Mojo and Andrea Manzano (aka DJ Andi-9) made their way to the historic St. Paul ruins. They did the usual tourist thing of taking snapshots of the city’s Sino-Portuguese architecture, sampling the savory meat jerky peddled in the cobblestone streets near St. Paul’s and basically enjoyed what most tourists do in Macau.

After their tour about town, Andi-9 excused herself to use the restroom while Mojo Jojo waited for her before heading back to their hotel. He patiently sat himself on a park bench at one of Macau’s old plazas and was soon approached by a group of Chinese men who had finished a night of drinking.

“Hey, are you a Filipino? You look like a Filipino.” asked one of the men in a very thick Chinese accent.

Mojo (who looks very “Filipino” with his kayumanggi skin and pinoy features) proudly replied. “Yes I am.”

Then after some drunken chuckles, the Chinese man said, “But it is only Saturday… why are you here?”

“Sunday is your day off, not today. Shouldn’t you be at work cleaning something?” said one of the Chinese man’s drunken companions, assuming that the very Filipino-looking Mojo Jojo was a domestic helper.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk!” chimed another of the men as he wagged his finger at Mojo.

Then the first Chinese man added, “You will get yourself into trouble.” This drew a hearty laugh from his drunken companions.

Instead of starting a fight with these rude and ignorant men, Mojo just smiled and let the inebriated posse on their way.

I asked Mojo why he didn’t defend himself and he said, “Why would I? It’s one thing to argue with ignorant people, but dealing with drunk ignorant people is another story.”

When asked if he took offense to the comments of those Chinese men, Mojo replied: “I am not embarrassed by their comments. I know I look very pinoy and I am proud of my ethnicity. I don’t take offense if they assumed me to be a domestic helper, there’s nothing wrong with that. There is no shame in earning an honest living, whatever your vocation might be. The whole encounter just shows how close-minded or lacking in experiences those men are. What I do find offensive is the condescending nature and plain ignorance of those drunkards.”

Mojo then recounted to me another “China encounter” while taping for his television travel show in a small fishing village outside of Hong Kong. During the particular episode, Mojo was again with Andi-9 (who is very mestiza-looking) and their Korean co-host Grace Lee.

“We were buying some trinkets at the wet market there when we were approached by some local Chinese students and their European friends from an International School who wanted to be interviewed on-cam. They seemed fun-loving and friendly so we gladly obliged. The teenagers were quite surprised that our TV show hailed from Manila but had a very multi-cultural makeup. They were quite fascinated and inquisitive actually,” says Mojo.

“They identified me as Filipino but found it interesting that I spoke English with an American accent. They assumed that Grace Lee was Chinese but were surprised that she was a Korean living in the Philippines who could speak English, Korean, Pilipino and some Mandarin.”

Despite the initial jolly encounter in the Chinese fishing village, Mojo was dismayed with what happened next, “However, when the students asked Andi about where she was from, they were quite surprised. With her Spanish features, they assumed Andy to be from Europe or North America and were in disbelief that she was Filipina. While they obviously meant no harm or to be rude, what came out of their mouths next was really ignorant and offensive.”

Mojo continued that the students began complimenting Andi on how cute she was; that she had such a beautiful smile and soft porcelain skin. Andi politely smiled and accepted the compliments graciously until the students crossed the line of cordiality.

“You're from the Philippines? But you don't look like a Filipina... you look nothing like my maid,” said one Chinese student.

“Yeah, you're so pretty!” said one of the European students who hailed from Germany. “I wish my folks could hire YOU to make my bed every morning.”

This “joke” drew hearty laughs from the other International School teens. Andi's expression immediately turned into a frown and the students noticed this. What was supposed to be a banter filled with compliments and innocent flirting perhaps had turned sour.

The students immediately asked, “Did we offend you? Did we say something wrong?” The students were obviously oblivious as to their careless indiscretion.

Andi was speechless and could not continue the on-cam interview. It was Grace Lee who addressed the students pointing out how ignorant and offensive their supposedly harmless “joke” was. Not only was it chauvinistic, but it only demonstrated how little they knew about Filipinos.

“Shame on you!” said Grace Lee. “And to think, you go to an INTERNATIONAL School. You should never address a lady like that or make blatant assumptions based on someone's race. You all should be ashamed of yourselves!”

(Imagine if all people were as ignorant - Then we'd assume that all Chinese owned egg roll factories, Germans were Neo-Nazis, and that Koreans made cellphones and flat-screen televisions all day! Preposterous!)

“We're sorry, we didn't mean to be rude,” immediately apologized one of the students before retreating embarrassingly with his classmates further into the wet market.

by Boldstar

By DJ Mojo Jojo

With the observance of Earth Day on April 22 fast approaching, the media seems to be abuzz with efforts to save the planet and promote a healthy and sustainable environment. More than just preserving the Earth and it's limited resources, such an observance was borne from the world’s growing population and genuine want to provide for ALL.

While Earth Day has been an annual celebration since 1969, it seems like our planet is still plagued with the same dilemma of the “HAVE’S” and “HAVE NOT’S.” Although we worry about building a sustainable lifestyle which will see humanity on through the decades and into the next century, it still pains me that there are just so many who do not have the “basic necessities” that most of us take for granted everyday.

MORE THAN ENOUGH

Given the current resources of our lonely planet, the fact of the matter is that there IS plenty to go around. Poverty and gross inequity can be alleviated if not for the disparate allotment of the Earth’s resources. Millions of men, women and children continue to go hungry while others gorge themselves into obesity or foolishly waste food unsparingly. Some people have no bed to rest in and sleep on cold dirt floors while the lucky ones own comfortable homes - far removed from the poverty that is a way of life for so many of their fellow men.

Mankind is supposed to be the steward of the Earth’s bounty, but it is apparent that we are not living up to this responsibility. Instead of sharing and providing for all, it the virtue of charity has taken a backseat to those who would horde, monopolize, perpetuate greed or just plainly live an apathetic or aloof lifestyle, unaffected by the plight of those who struggle to scrape by on a day-to-day existence.

A MINIATURE EARTH

The fact that you are reading this blog-post makes you one of the HAVE’S as opposed to one of the HAVE NOT’S. Chances are you enjoy access to much of the planet's resources that millions of men, women and children will never experience in a lifetime. But are you fully aware of how lucky you really are?

This brings me to a website that was featured on our radio program just recently. According to a movie found on www.miniature-earth.com, “If the Earth were reduced to 100, it would look something like this…”

The site states:

The text that originated this movie was published on May 29, 1990 with the title “State of the Village Report”, and it was written by Donella Meadows, who passed away in February 200. Nowadays Sustainability Institute, through Donella’s Foundation, carries on her ideas and projects.

The miniature Earth project was first published in 2001, since then more than 2 million people have visited its website.

The statistics have been updated based on specialized publications, and mainly reports on the World’s population provided by different resources, like UN publications, PRB.org and others. Bear in mind that these are only statistics, and consequently changes might occur after a few months or only after years.

The website’s movie, paints a startling picture of how unfair like is for the vast majority of humankind. By itemizing the statistics of a microcosm of the Earth’s population, the site implores one to ponder what they can do to help their fellow men. If not a poignant list of facts that will educate and open your mind to how iniquitous the world really is, www.miniature-earth.com urges readers to “appreciate what you have and do your best for a better world.”

THE MICROCOSM - FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If we could turn the population of the Earth into a small community of 100 people, keeping the same proportions we have today, it would be something like this…

ETHNICITY: 61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 8 North Americans, 5 South Americans and from the Caribbean, 13 Africans, 1 from Oceana

BY SEX: 50 men, 50 women

LIVING CONDITIONS: 47 live in an urban area, 43 live without basic sanitation, 18 live without an improved water source, If you keep your food in a refrigerator and your clothes in a closet and if you have a bed to sleep in and a roof over your head you are richer than 75% of the entire world population

RELIGION: 33 are Christian, 18 are Muslim, 14 are Hindu, 16 are non-religious, 6 are Buddhists, 13 practice other religions

ECONOMY & WEALTH: 6 people own 59% of the entire wealth of the entire community, if you have a bank account then you’re one of the 30 wealthiest people in the world

EDUCATION: 14 can’t read, only 7 are educated at a secondary level

HEALTH: 9 are disabled, 13 are hungry or malnourished, 1 adult aged 15-49 has HIV/AIDS

MILITARY SPENDING: The village spends more than US$ 1.12 trillion on military expenditures and only US$ 100 billion on development aid

DAY TO DAY SURVIVAL: 18 people struggle to live on US$ 1.00 per day or less, 53 people struggle to live on US$ 2.00 per day or less

COMPUTERS: Only 12 have a computer, only 3 have an internet connection

* * *

Given the statistics above, I’d like to modify a familiar phrase: “It’s a small world, after all… and an unnecessarily unfair one at that!”