by: BR Villarama

Being elite does not mean being indifferent. My grandfather used to
tell me that the richest of all people are those who do not need to
show and tell. Your achievements and what you've done should be enough
to represent who you are.

I am writing this short article at the invitation of a good friend who
is a search engine optimization expert based in Dubai. A group of overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs) are working almost 24/7 promoting Philippine
tourism to foreigners in Dubai hoping that in their small effort, they can
contribute in the development of Paradise Philippines.

He forwarded me an article written by someone who just fiercely and
fabulously destroyed herself and the papers she represented.

Her name is Malu Fernandez and her article was about her summer
vacation in Boracay and Greece. With due respect to her work as a
writer, jet setter, social butterfly, and a fashion specialist, I
could not tolerate the words she wrote about the OFWs.

I do not understand why the editors of the magazine and newspaper
allowed such article to be published. If the article is meant to
promote a hotel in Boracay or the scenes in Greece, or perhaps her
collection of insect repellants, then be it, but to mock Boracay as an
insect-and-algae infested area, which according to her had almost
killed her was just funnily annoying.

Malu's story did not stop from there. Her airline experience was
something that really went out of line. It was just sad that she, as a
Filipina seems to be living in an illusion of grandeur where she
thinks she's not what she really is – a shallow self-righteous woman
who can't seem to accept the truth about her origin and worst has no
understanding of how our country is further going to the ruts by
people like her.

As she wrote, "Emirates had won best economy class and some award.
However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and [the] majority of OFWs
were stationed there. The duty-free was overrun by Filipino workers
selling cell phones and perfumes. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my
wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them."

Click on the image to enlarge

These are only few words from a remarkably unethical article from

Malu Fernandez and the papers she represented.

I couldn't help but feel disappointed by the fact that she also
represents a number of Filipinos who act like kings and queens in this
overly democratic society; those people who think they are too
self-righteous, too perfect and too good to be involved in the
development of their country. Yes, I have met many Malu Fernandez in
my years of covering Philippine politics and culture. It's funny,
annoying, pathetic and sometimes, just too poor.

I hope her article would serve as an awakening that branding oneself
with expensive clothes and friends will never measure one's worth. We
have a country to develop into a paradise so stop living in personal
illusions and let's all get back to work.