Everyone was busy preparing for food but I could no longer move my fingers. So, I decided to rest in order to regain enough strength. I headed on the living room and there I found an album on top of the table. Then, I sat on the sofa took the album and run through its cover and the first two pages. I noticed that the Totally Spies were on the cover and the color of the album is pink. I thought it was owned by my little niece. But when I look at the first page I saw three pictures and three people-- my cousin, uncle and auntie at the airport. I knew right at that moment that it belongs to my 28-year old cousin and the pictures were taken during their trip to Hong Kong. I enjoyed browsing the images and laughed upon reading her notes. It was as if I was reading a fair-tale-comic-book. But, I decided to stop my 'little pleasure' because there is an empty page. I thought, those were only the pictures she took on their 3-day stay in Hong Kong. If it was only me, I could have taken hundreds. So, I asked, "Are these all the pictures? Ang konti naman. Nakakabitin." My sister answered, "Tingnan mo kaya ng mabuti. May pictures pa after that." I smiled and continued my almost-bitin-pleasure.
After viewing and exploring her wonderful tour to Hong Kong I remembered the overused quote: Picture speaks a thousand words. I almost believed that they really have the best days of their lives this 2007. However, I was terribly wrong after listening to the stories of my cousin. Sure, they had fun but if anyone could only imagine the discrimination they experienced there. She said that those Chinese are rude and they think that the Filipinos are low-class people. She cannot understand and speak Chinese but that doesn't make her less intelligent to know that they were being talked. She narrated many instances: 1) My uncle thanked the driver after they were dropped at the hotel safely. But the ill-mannered driver started blabbing in Mandarin with an angry tone. Also, giving them the hey-I-don't-need-your-thank-you and you-shouldn't-have-taken-a-taxi-if-you-can't-pay kind of look. The three of them dropped their mouth in surprise. They were shocked! My cousin thought, "Thanking doesn't mean we are not going to pay. You're saying like we won't pay you. We shouldn't have ridden a cab if we don't have money." She didn't utter a word, given the awkwardness of the situation. She grabbed her purse and paid. 2.) At the Hong Kong airport, the employees welcomed the foreigners gaily. But when they saw them (knowing they are Filipinos) they gave them a what-are-you-doing-here and maybe you're-going-to-be-a-TNT look. 3.) Since it was their first time to go to Hong Kong they shopped. They also bought some food which weren't sold here in the Philippines and rare-delicious-looking-food. Anyway, they thought it was okay to do some bargaining. So, they asked nicely if it would be fine to lower the price a bit since they're going to buy more than 10 items of the same product with different colors. The lady started yelling and taking back the items they selected. My cousin, paid immediately and walked away holding her breath.
I couldn't just understand why Filipinos are treated unjustly. They are being alienated without good reasons. Though, I know it for a fact that some Filipinos also take advantage (maybe because they are desperate and very poor), it is not right to generalize and treat all of them like inferior beings. Besides, how can these contemptible Chinese (I don't generalize that's why I put the word contemptible to be specific. If you are a Chinese but not contemptible so don't get affected) do that? Some of them are here in the Philippines experiencing luxury, using the Filipinos to make them rich. They are even drug lords, biggest syndicate, seller of pirated goods, and stealing lands. But they are given the benefit of the doubt and being treated humanly.
Go here in the Philippines, you'd encounter people who are rude too (but not as rude as the people in Hong Kong). Rude in a way that if you're a white they (kids) make a little joke trying to call you a Joe. So, even if you're dutch you'd be called Joe. There are also bad people who are going to steal your things. But I can assure you one thing, a Filipino (also) will come to rescue you. And will try so hard to speak in a different language (despite appearing like idiots) just to help you. Moreover, the Filipinos look at any of you like superior beings and they are so willing to serve. And if they knew that a fellow Filipino took advantage of you, they won't think twice of telling the authority albeit the notion that a countryman is going to be in prison.
But if any of us, go in your hell place we would be welcomed with hostility and we would receive those discriminating looks. We would be prejudiced. And nobody will try to speak in Filipino just to help us understand. Even if we are being treated unjustly no one is going to help because we are only seen as lost travelers (strangers)!
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