After the wake of typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) that killed dozens of people and displaced thousands of others, one small yet insensitive comment online sparked outrage. Jacque Bermejo is an overseas Filipino worker based in Dubai. In her apparent reaction to the widespread flooding in Manila and nearby provinces, she updated her Facebook profile saying:
buti n lng am hir in dubai!maybe so many sinners bak der so yeah deserving wat hapend!
While governments of the United States and China extended help through cash donations, Bermejo (or at least the one who used her account) helped fan hatred of Filipinos towards her. How can someone who's safe from the inconveniences of calamities back home speak ill towards struggling Filipinos?
The online community was quick to react to Jacque Bermejo's way of thinking. Facebook has a few groups devoted to this woman. Parodied as fan page, members of these groups lashed out not only against her statements (yes, after she received comments, she continued to stand firm over what she said) but also managed to dig her other details such as her Multiply account and left nasty comments.
I remember Malu Fernandez, a writer who bragged about her travels but despised the sight of Filipinos abroad, complaining of their presence:
"The duty-free shop was overrun by Filipino workers selling cell-phones and perfume. Meanwhile I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in the plane with them".
If one has viewed photos, videos or read the news about how Filipinos suffered through this flooding casued by typhoon Ondoy, it would be difficult, if not impossible to leave insensitive comments like the one from Jacque Bermejo's account. Metro Manila is now mired in mud. With 73 people dead, and thousands still left in schools, churches and public gymnasiums awaiting to do a massive cleanup, the last thing everyone wants to read is an irresponsible comment from someone basking in sunshine (and extreme heat) far from home.
If what you say does not benefit anybody, then just keep it to yourself. Otherwise it is inviting trouble.
There were reports that Jacque's account was hacked and used by someone else to portray as Jacque Bermejo. Identity theft is an offense that hits careless account holders. One party claiming to be her relative released a statement:
Ang ate ko hindi ganyan kung magenglish, edukada sister ko at nag graduate sa UP. We came from a PROVINCE and part of a political family. Hindi basta basta si ate jack magpopost na magsisira sa family name namin. Dumaan din kami sa hirap, at for your information binagyo din ang lugar namin, TATLONG BESES. Why in the world will my ate as a filipino disgrace our family and citizen, sana po wag muna kayo manghusga.
Hintayin lang po sana ung explaination, for she doesn't have internet nor load right now, its around 3am-4am at dubai, and I have hard times contacting her myself.
Kung sino ka man gumagamit ng pangalan ng ate ko, mahahannap ka din ng mga bermejo.
What took Jacque Bermejo so long to clear her name if she indeed wasn't the one who managed her Facebook account? While everyone will wait for her "official" statement, her family will have to endure the disgust of folks online on their Dubai relative. Like the customized Kanye West remarks. There was even an unsuccessful attempt at immortalizing her at Wikipedia; that page was subsequently deleted mostly due to grounds of hatred.The longer we wait (or find the real message) for a response from Jacque to this mayhem, we expect some pounding in cyberspace. And whether people overreacted or not to this Jacque Bermejo message, it's definitely their call and there are no policemen out to arrest them for doing so. Nevertheless, she's human and bound to make mistakes anyway, so can't we move on fixing our muddy roads instead of deriding her?
Photo credit: Facebook, mittbbs 2008, Twitter
Posts
9 comments:
People are always like that; as long as it's related to HATE it spreads relatively fast. Sobrang hilig makialam ng tao sa buhay ng iba; at least have proofs from the person herself until you make assumptions.
What’s wrong with you dogs? You deserve to be called dogs. Just like that lowly animals, they always fight with each other. Pathetic Filipinos, your country will never be rich as long as your attitude is like that. Come on, you always noticed people saying bad thing against you but you are all the same. Why don’t you just work and stop talking. You really deserve the flood coz you are so dirty, you throw garbage everywhere. You have no discipline. Admit it! Don’t blame others. Don’t be sensitive with the criticism coz its true that you, Filipinos have no discipline. Very bad attitude!
wag sana natin husgahan c Jacque Bermejo, do we have the evidence na siya talaga ang nagsabi?? kahit sino pwede gumawa ng fake profile at ilagay ang larawan mo. internet can do all the sh*ts... may gusto lang sigurong sumira sa kridibilidad niya..BAGO MANGHUSGA ALAMIN MUNA ANG KATOTOHANAN.. TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE!! SALAMAT
on a wall post about Jacque Bermejo's official statement, claiming that the hateful posts on facebook was not her, another DEVIL INCARNATE arises ... this time ... he "means" it.
Rivera Adrian posted (on FACEBOOK): "you know what guys?! tama siguro yung sinabi nung jacque cuz were blessed n nand2 kami in abroad. cuz hindi kami corrupt and full of fuckin drama like u guys. so tama lng yang nangyari sa inyo ok?! im fuckin mean it to the fullest... sana nxt time ulit kasama n kayong ma wipe out.... hehehehe"
PLEASE STOP THIS HATE CAMPAIGN
CASAPRESTIGE official statement
In regards to rumors circulating around Ms. Jacqueline Bermejo.
We would like to firstly clarify that Ms. Bermejo is not officially connected to our organization but rather helped our brand development through the offering of marketing/media advice for a temporary period being a personal friend to some of the CASAPRESTIGE team.
Having said that CASAPRESTIGE can again on a personal and professional level vouch for Ms. Bermejo to a 101% - condemning all these disturbing and groundless allegations made against her, we know for a fact because we accompanied here to the cyber crime department a year ago and to the Philippine embassy this time around.
To the concerned Filipino communities and individuals around the globe we urge you to not believe everything you read especially if it’s from less than credible sources such these online communities.
Facebook is not where you should be getting your information.
We also would like to point out that the numbers 0503416640/044329633 are not connected to Ms. Bermejo but indeed CASAPRESTIGE business numbers that are unable to provide information beyond this statement.
For the real story kindly refer to Ms. Bermejo’s only official statement and actual newspaper articles. please do look into it, i think we all owe her that much - to hear her side of the story,
“Suppressio very expression falsi” – a suppression of truth is equivalent to an expression of falsehood as a wise person wrote in,
And finally to victims of the typhoon we extend our prayers.
Signed
Robeen R. Kobeen - operational partner
Antonio Lupi – Managing directior
http://www.casaprestige.ae
Andrew, who the frack are you?
Another white-wannabe? I'm betting my bottom dollar that you are just some lame ass who thinks he's all that, when truth to the matter is you are just an illiterate, rude, pompous jerk who can't even write properly.
Go to hell, you douchebag.
Sana di naman sya masyadong husgahan ng tao. Kung marketing executive sya sa Dubai malamang di sya ganun magsalita ng Ingles. May mga tao naman talagang gumagamit ng ibang photos ng ibang tao at saka gumagawa ng fake account. Di ko kilala si Jacqueline Bermejo pero tingin ko di naman sya dapat husgahan ng ganun. Filipina pa rin sya. :)
Rivera Adrian posted (on FACEBOOK): "you know what guys?! tama siguro yung sinabi nung jacque cuz were blessed n nand2 kami in abroad. cuz hindi kami corrupt and full of fuckin drama like u guys. so tama lng yang nangyari sa inyo ok?! im fuckin mean it to the fullest... sana nxt time ulit kasama n kayong ma wipe out.... hehehehe"
Bakit ka ganian Adrian Rivera???????? Pilipino ka din uy!!!!! Mahiya ka amn sa mga cnabi mo..... Sana mauna kang bahain jan sa kinaroroonan mo!!!!!
Calamities are happening everywhere now. let's hope and continue to pray for the good of all! Peace to all mankind and God bless Philippines.
Post a Comment