If they are still anxious over last week’s bloody hostage crisis in Manila, Filipinos may want to postpone for now their vacation to Hong Kong, a Philippine official said.
Philippine consul general to Hong Kong Claro Cristobal issued the advice as he noted that some Filipinos still feel jittery about going to Hong Kong despite assurances about their safety there.
“Pangit na nagbabakasyon tayong nangangamba. Ang sinasabi ko, ligtas, walang kumpirmadong kaso na sila ay babastusin o aatakihin. (Pero) kung sa pananaw nila sila takot na takot huwag muna magbakasyon muna, baka di mag-enjoy o maging masaya, baka mangibabaw ang takot," Cristobal said in an interview on dzBB radio on Monday.
(It will not be good if you go there on vacation while anxious. All I am saying is that there is no confirmed instance of Filipinos being bullied in Hong Kong. But if they still feel scared, they better postpone their vacation for now because they will likely not enjoy their trip there.)
Cristobal assured that Hong Kong is one of the "most mature areas" in Asia, where the police and emergency response teams will always be ready to secure their guests.
He added that the community there will not judge Filipinos visiting there just because of the crisis incident in Manila.
On August 23, in an 11-hour hostage crisis, nine persons were killed — eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza.
Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and held hostage 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos.
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Rally and march in Hong Kong On Sunday, a major rally was held in Hong Kong to seek an impartial investigation into last week’s incident. Filipinos expressed their support for Hong Kong residents by holding sympathy vigils.
Cristobal said the criticisms against the Philippines during Sunday’s rally and march were relatively mature.
“Di natin maaalis may masakit na pananalita pero ito ginawa sa mahinahong paraan. Walang nagtatawag ng masamang salita (We cannot avoid some people saying hurtful words but these were done calmly and no one resorted to insults)," he said.
He said the participants at Sunday’s march and vigil made it clear that they are not angry at the Philippines or Filipinos, but merely want a fair investigation.
“Sinasabi nila ang kanilang hangad ay magkaroon ng investigation. Hindi tayo ang target, hindi tayo pinupuntirya bilang isang bayan. Ang hinihiling nila, pangunahan ang masusi, tapat at makabuluhang investigation sa mga insidente," he said.
(They merely want a fair investigation. The target of their criticisms is neither the Philippines nor Filipinos. All they want is a full and honest-to-goodness investigation.)
Cristobal said there was no truth to rumors being spread via text messages that Filipinos were attacked, shot, or stabbed because of last week's hostage crisis.
He said “hate" emails, texts and calls still reach the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong but only when there are news that may aggravate the situation, such as when it was reported that a Philippine flag was draped over Mendoza's coffin.
The Philippine government denied that it had anything to do with the placing of the flag and said the family to do that. The flag was removed from the coffin shortly after the Chinese embassy in the Philippines condemned the action.
Labor Secretary's advice to OFWs
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalindo Baldoz, advised overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, particularly domestic helpers, not to let the recent events affect their work in the Chinese territory.
She assured them that only one Filipino worker has been terminated so far due to the hostage-taking incident.
Baldoz, however, said Filipinos in Hong Kong must continue to be "sensitive" to the sentiments of the Chinese territory's citizens.
"Maging sensitive pa rin at patuloy na igalang ang anumang mga damdamin na naghahari pa rin sa mga residente at mga national ng Hong Kong (Continue to be sensitive and respect whatever feelings continue to be felt by the residents and citizens of Hong Kong)," Baldoz said in an interview over GMA News' Unang Hirit.
Baldoz said she has asked Cristobal if the Filipino community there can hold a memorial service for the victims at the "appropriate time."
The labor secretary said the relatives of Filipinos in Hong Kong and mainland China need not worry about their family members in the Chinese territory.
She said the labor department is constantly communicating with the Filipino consulate general in Hong Kong as well as with recruitment agencies.
"Sa mga pamilya po ng ating mga kababayang nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong at China wag po kayong mag-alala, ang atin pong konsulado doon, ang labor officee po patuloy pong nakikipag-ugnayan sa pinagtatrabahuhan nung amo at mga ahensya. Kung meron pong problema makakaasa po kayo kaagad ng kanilang tulong at kami naman po dito'y patuloy pong nakikipag-ugnayan," she said.
(To the relatives of our countrymen who are working in Hong Kong and China, don't worry because our consulate, the labor office there, continuously communicates with the employers and the agencies. If there is a problem you can expect immediate assistance. We are also in constant communication with them.). –with Jam Sisante, VVP
