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Malu Fernandez apologizes on The Philippine Star, resigns from MST

August 24th, 2007 · 11 Comments

Reading from a letter to the editor on The Philippine Star, it appears that Malu Fernandez, who has been the subject of widespread criticism (to put it mildly) with regards to her From Boracay to Greece article in People Asia magazine, has resigned from the said magazine and Manila Standard Today.

The following is the text of the letter, which can be found here. I have provided this copy because I am not sure if The Philippine Star has implemented caching of articles and entries beyond recent ones (they don’t have an archive of past articles):

Statement from Malu Fernandez on the OFW controversy

Friday, August 24, 2007

I am humbled by the vehement and heated response provoked by my article entitled “From Boracay to Greece!” which came out in the June 2007 issue of People Asia. To say that this article was not meant to malign, hurt or express prejudice against the OFWs now sounds hollow after reading through all the blogs from Filipinos all over the world. I am deeply apologetic for my insensitivity and the offensive manner in which this article was written, I hear you all and I am properly rebuked. IT was truly not my intention to malign hurt or express prejudice against OFWs.

As the recent recipient and target of death threats, hate blogs, and deeply personal insults, I now truly understand the insidiousness of discrimination and prejudice disguised as humor. Our society is bound together by human chains of kindness and decency. I have failed to observe this and I am now reaping the consequences of my actions. It is my fervent hope that the lessons that I’ve learned are not lost on all those who through anonymous blogs, engaged in bigotry, discrimination, and hatred (against overweight individuals, for example).

I take full responsibility for my actions and my friends and family have nothing to do with this. To date I have submitted my resignation letters to both the Manila Standard and People Asia, on that note may this matter be laid to rest.[The Philippine Star]

I hope that this lays to rest this deeply divisive and scandalous issue.

UPDATE: Here is the video of the TV Patrol report regarding Malu Fernandez, the OFW reaction, and her resignation:

Tags: Jornalismo · Nasyonalismo · Pahayagan · Pulitika

11 responses so far ↓

  • 1 lex // Aug 24, 2007 at 1:24 pm

    Thank you!

    That’s all we need from you.

    You may roam in peace anywhere in the world.

    Good luck! Babe!

  • 2 Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » The GK ideological split // Aug 24, 2007 at 1:49 pm

    [...] quits after getting OFWs’ ire). For details on the actual letter of apology itself, see Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX. In Piercing Pens, there is more information, including People Asia saying it will publish the [...]

  • 3 Clair // Aug 24, 2007 at 4:18 pm

    Maybe it will be the last of that issue. Hopefully. There’s closure already.

  • 4 Ron-man // Aug 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm

    That should teach her a lesson not to malign working-class people. We may not afford to travel around the world in style or live large, but if there’s one thing people like her cannot take away from us or trample on, it’s our diginty as human beings.

    Her affluence is no license to make her feel like a god and look down on others with contempt.

  • 5 ems // Aug 24, 2007 at 11:23 pm

    that is what I say that not because we have “Freedom of the press”, the media, journalists and reporters can just say anything they want to without being responsible to every word they say.

    I think some journalists have abused their freedom and power to the point of being irresponsible and insensitive. Oh well…

  • 6 MALUliwanagan at MALUloko/loka - ‘Anyone Can Blog’ | Pinoy Bloggers Society (PBS) - PinoyBlogoSphere.com // Aug 25, 2007 at 3:31 pm

    [...] to resign… TV Patrol Segment on Malu at YouTube Society columnist quits over OFW bashing Malu Fernandez apologizes on The Philippine… The Malu Brouhaha I’m Sick of Talking About Her but Apparently You… Meet MALU [...]

  • 7 the jester-in-exile // Aug 29, 2007 at 10:39 am

    seems like the resignations weren’t real: http://cmfr-phil.blogspot.com/2007/08/malus-back.html

    i’ve already had doubts over the “apology.”

  • 8 Jon Limjap // Aug 29, 2007 at 11:50 am

    Jester,

    Tignan natin… baka naman iba na ang magtutuloy ng column niya. Or hindi tinanggap ng MST ang kanyang resignation?

    Ika nga eh, abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

  • 9 lex // Aug 31, 2007 at 7:47 pm

    She is doomed to repeat it!

    And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:24)

  • 10 Lester Cavestany // Sep 7, 2007 at 12:36 am

    I hope we can learn to forgive Malu Fernandez. I wrote an entry about her article and I hope you can find time to read it. It’s entitled “One Voice (An OFW’s reaction to Malu Fernandez’s “From Greece to Boracay”)” and I posted it here: http://lestercavestany.com/?p=10

  • 11 Jon Limjap // Sep 7, 2007 at 10:16 am

    Lester,

    Thanks for visiting my blog. I have written a subsequent post regarding my views of the movement that has now turned to a boycott of Manila Standard Today.

    I commented on your insightful entry, as well.

    Thanks.

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