Malu (Hu?) x 2

Well people, after all that has been said and done about Ms. Malu Fernandez and about her supposed submission of her resignation paper both from People Asia Magazine and The Manila Standard Today, surprise, surprise. Today, her column in The Manila Standard - Divalicious came out to talk about, well, “make-up.” Seems like her resignation was not accepted.

I will admit this is only the fourth article that she has written that I’ve read since the netizens shook her to her senses. The first being the People Asia Article - From Boracay to Greece, second, her Am I a Diva! Or do you lack common sense?, third, her apology and “resignation”, and today’s article in Divalicious entitled, Unseen evil on your dressing table.

Interestingly, her column which came out today, September 3, 2007, Monday did not include names of High Society personalities and Brand Names. And it was toned down. Way way down. Her article tackled on how to keep the ladies’ make-up space and equipment clean to prevent rashes, eye infections and other allergic reactions and the expiration of make-up. And also a big surprise, is she even talked about how TO SAVE on lipstick and to not be a “label whore” since the more EXPENSIVE brands and the CHEAPER ones contains the same ingredients and costs about $0.50 to $1.00 to make. The difference in pricing in the end product lies mainly in its packaging and marketing.

For me, I’d say, judging from this latest column of hers in the Manila Standard Today, I think she has learned her lesson and learned it well.

For other netizens out there, what do you think?

I for one have friends and family who work abroad for a living. And it is disheartening at times that it tugs on my heartstrings when I talk to them on the phone or even over the internet and they hear the television or the radio in the background and they would ask to put the receiver closer to the source of the sound so just they can “hear” a little bit of home. More so if they are having problems or sick and they have no one there to care for them except other OFW’s who are free from their work schedules.

In my case, I’m not totally excluding the Manila Standard Today (MST) from my reading list. I believe there are more intelligible, sensible and credible writers in MST.

As of today, I promise myself that “Unseen evil on your dressing table” will be the fourth and last article I will read of Malu Fernandez, even if she comes out with another article displaying her “acerbic wit” and her brand of humor.

I leave it saying: There will be no complete absolution nor total restitution, in the absence of an equal and just amount of retribution. So there.

Malu (Hu?)

Everybody is blogging about Malu Fernandez

Who is she? And what is the fuss all about that drove everybody to a frenzy like a disturbed hornets nest.




And here is my take on what she wrote:

To start with, I've never heard of nor read anything written by a "someone" who considers herself as a "somebody" and goes by the name of "Malu Fernandez". Oh yes I read newspapers everyday and The Manila Standard Today is one of them. Unless I was having mental diarrhea or my taste somewhat doesn't pang for her type of so called "humor and acerbic wit," she's probably insignificant or too shallow for me.

I laud the editors of the Manila Standard Today and People Asia for publishing her articles in their pages presumably unadulterated. I need not expound on the difference between a JOURNALIST and a COLUMNIST, but each has moral standards and obligations to their readers. If any. She is right though when she wrote that ..." if you don't like what you read and if what I write offends you, just stop reading." This maybe the reason why I NEVER got to read her until now.

Her observations of how Filipinos abroad treat and act towards each other is not uncommon to us FILIPINOS. It is a known fact that we FILIPINOS are a very sociable and hospitable bunch. And because of this inherent trait, we are more often than not, being misconstrued and taken advantaged of and ridiculed by other races. But that is beside the point. This kind of slam dished out by Ms. Fernandez against her "KABABAYANS" who are sacrificing being away from home and family to make a living is just too bitter a pill to swallow.

Oh yes I have rich friends. And yes I've heard them give remarks about other peoples fashion sense, intellectual ability, socio-economic standing, etc. BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF RIDICULE AND TOO DEROGATORY to make one squirm out of his/her own skin. How negatively nouveau. Yes I have underprivileged friends too. They also play the same game but more bare and freewheeling and not flourished with useless adjectives to hide their true intent. Her column was so direct and yet it makes one wonder where she's coming from doesn't it?

If she thinks she is funny, fine. If she thinks she has acerbic wit, fine. Her friends thought her article was hilarious, fine. I challenge her to write an article about her so called "friends" in the style she did with the OFW's. Let us see if they find it hilarious as well. She called herself a bitch, I couldn't agree more.

She said: "Many people often find my direct attitude to be rude or obnoxious. I really don’t mean to be anything but true to myself." Well, being true to ones' self is indeed admirable, so does having patience which she said she sorely lacks. Hasn't she stopped to consider that the OFW's she flew in coach with and was lambasted by her in her Fierce & Fabulous column, are just being true to themselves. Added to that, instead of a direct apology, she sprinkled salt on the cut she made with "Am I being a diva? Or do you lack common sense?" She's got more than her fair share of CRAB MENTALITY and total DISRESPECT. That is direct attitude for you. After her article, it wasn't a surprise that these same OFW's and those who share their sensibilities were obnoxiously rude to her as well. Tit for Tat.

I am tempted to give her more than a piece of my mind. But come to think of it, why would I STOOP DOWN to her level? Wait a minute, I already did. For good cause. And I am not ashamed of it either. I AM JUST BEING TRUE TO MYSELF and I have no PATIENCE with anyone who steps and defames his/her own race just to be noticed. Maybe, just maybe, if the politicians in her family are doing even half of their elected job, there won't be too many OFW's that she loathes so much, with her in coach, so she can be comfortable. Come to think of it. If you are a privileged person, why fly in coach? I am not done yet.

She states: "Most people don’t get the fact that they need bitches like me to shake up their world, otherwise their lives would be boring and mediocre."

I say: She may consider herself privileged but now she found out that OFW's are PEOPLE and not that dumb nor that stupid to just accept her fecal kind of inane writing. Congratulations to her for finally being taken noticed of.

Oh yes I need bitches alright. But not her kind. The kind of bitch I want is the one that can give me "PUPPIES." Puppies that will eventually grow up as loving companion dogs that will wag its tail with glee and show me and my kin unconditional affection no matter what. I have no need for a kind of self-serving bitch that waddles and shakes up my world literally with its every step and wag of its offensively insensitive and discriminatory tongue.

I admittedly have stooped down to her level to shake up her world and topple that imaginary pedestal she plops, not prop, herself onto. And I am proud to say that I AM A FILIPINO albeit using a foreign language for this comment.

In conclusion, I may have never been to Greece yet, but I am proud to say that I have been to the farthest North and farthest South of the Philippines. I enjoyed and continually enjoy what each and every province has to give. Wholeheartedly offered by the people who may have had family members on that Emirates flight in coach.