Cheap Chip Tsao!

Philippine local television, in its usual six o’clock news brought out a news regarding an online column of a certain Chip Tsao of Hong Kong which we believe a very degrading and discriminatory remarks against the Filipino race. Since I was not able to see the whole news, I hurriedly searched for it in the internet and found the controversial column of Tsao. Although, I did not find it anymore at Hong Kong Magazine (online magazine), I still got a screenshot of a portion of his article. The article is titled “The War At Home” – is actually a commentary made by Tsao over the Philippine policy on Spratly Islands issue.

Here’s what he wrote and I quote:
“The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen onboard. We can live with that that's no big problem-—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons.

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 US$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.

As a Chinese man, my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell EVERYONE of her compatriots that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to WASH MY TOILET and clean my windows 16 hours a day.

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 Chairman Mao!" at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution.” (: http://houseonahill.net/chip-tsao-on-spratly-islands-issue/)

I became interested about the issue as it created varied reactions on the net. However, my interest over the writer is more than that of the issue. I want to learn more about him before punching back at his face with my still carefully done reactions. Mr. Tsao, according to my own internet research is a famous broadcast journalist in Hong Kong, a columnist, an author of a book(s), and a former BBC reporter. With his commendable journalistic qualifications, if what I read in the net is all true, we can say that he has already mastered the art of journalism. What I mean of the Art of Journalism is that, he should be very well versed in watching his own responsibilities as a writer and he should master the code of ethics of journalism.

Now, let us focus on the facts of what he has written. He said: “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.” As far as I know, the Spratly Island issue has been an issue raised by our government long time ago. And our government will not waste time on it if we do not have sufficient evidences over our claim.

“There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as US$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong.” The figures on Filipina maids might be true, although, I do not exactly know the figures. But I do have reaction on the salaries received by Filipino maids in Hong Kong. US$3, 580 per month? If this salary is based on reality, I might send all my family members in Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers, because we can have millions after a span of years. Come to think of it, $3,580 is equivalent to more than 160,000 at an exchange rate of 45 per dollar.

“As a nation of servants, YOU DON'T FLEX YOUR MUSCLES AT YOUR MASTER, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.” Yes, we are a nation of servants and we are proud of it! We are proud that millions of Filipinos are able to serve the world. But not all Filipinos working aboard are domestic helpers; we have professionals, medical practitioners, engineers, caregivers, etc. We are not ashamed of who we are as long as we are earning every single cent from a decent living. We are able to survive from poverty without risking the lives of others. We are still God-fearing fellows who are not into creating poisonous stuffs just to earn a living, even if it would mean risking the lives of others, especially the innocent ones.

The issue has created reactions from some of our top government officials. Yes, we do not want to be called as a nation of servants. Our government has been denouncing Mr. Tsao’s racial and political intolerance, even demanding him for a public apology. But whether he does it or not, the damaged has been already done. We are again at the hot seat of controversial issue. Of course, we all condemn Mr. Tsao’s “racist” article, because we as human beings, deserve an equal treatment. But, in my own opinion, sometimes we have to be treated like this, so that our government will do something to combat poverty. These “servants” would surely prefer to stay with their families if they have jobs here in our country, enough to support their needs, enough to feed their children.

Anyway, let’s not just be too sensitive. Mr. Chip Tsao is I guess a cheap one. We can still do something to prove that we do not deserve such degrading remarks and I believe we are more blessed and gifted than he is. At least, we are teaching them how practice proper hygiene so that they would not be infected again with SARS!
Just beware Mr. Cheap Chip Tsao, that domestic assistant of yours whom you require to clean you toilet and windows for 16 hours might attack you by giving you a daily cup of melamine-contained milk!