section E focus
filipino globe
comment & community
May 2008
19
After all the outrage,
justice for Vicky
remains to be seen
H
ong Kong’s Discovery Bay
is an upscale enclave which PINOYDIMsUM
doesn’t look like it’s in Asia. observations
Sometimes called “Disco Bay” or
just plain DB, it could easily pass
for an Australian or Californian
suburb with its high-rise flats,
well-manicured greenery, plaza,
trendy shops, beachside clubhouse
Isabel T
and hilltop golf club. The main Escoda
difference from a Western enclave is
that, in those places, it’s usually the
suicide has prompted the police to
mothers or fathers who take their
redouble their efforts to pinpoint
toddlers around for an airing. In DB
the exact cause of death. Vociferous
it’s often Filipina nannies caring for
protests have been staged both in
their employers’ kids.
DB and Hongkongside, not mainly
The recent drowning death, under
by the Pinoy community but also
suspicious circumstances, of Vicenta
by Western employers and other
Flores who faithfully served the
sympathizers.
same employers for 12 years, for
At a mass held one night at the
sEEING RED
the same minimum wage, reminds
DB International School auditorium,
us of other migrant workers’ deaths
Soaring fuel prices are adding to the nation’s woes, which have deepened in recent months due to a
the pastor’s homily mentioned that
throughout past decades in Hong
rice crisis. Last week, transport groups in Metro Manila went on strike to protest against a rise in the
too many local employers treat
Kong. This year saw two women
price of gasoline and other petroleum products. More disruptions are seen in the days ahead.
their pets better than they do their
jump off their employers’ flats in
servants. Unfortunately, the service
North Point and Aberdeen, and one
degenerated into the usual kawawa-
found hanging from her employer’s
tayong-mga-biktima attitude
toilet. All these cases seemed to be,
Lameduck US administration in denial
common among so many Pinoys.
a bit too quickly, termed suicides,
The sense of victimhood is easy to
but such a label leaves a great sense
understand, knowing the poverty
of unease in the Pinoy community,
Even in its lame-duck phase, the
that has driven so many women
as well as among other migrant
George W. Bush administration
OTHERvOICEs
no change in today’s impacts, and
away from home. The kawawa
workers like the Indonesians, Thais
manages to ruffle the world’s feathers.
philippine daily inquirer
that’s not going to fly,” said Jamie
Rappaport Clark of Defenders of
syndrome is so pervasive, it has a
and Sri Lankans.
This week, the US government placed Wildlife. “It remains to be seen how
special place in the Pinoy lexicon.
What really caused these deaths,
the polar bear on its list of endangered
for the bear – would continue and
much this belated listing decision will
During that service in DB, a talk
besides the usual employment,
species, an obvious victim of global
may even quicken.” But in spite of
improve protection for polar bears and
by Vicenta’s sister produced tears
financial and emotional problems,
warming. At the same time, Interior
all that, Kempthorne was driven to
their rapidly shrinking habitat,” said
among onlookers, and hymns and
Secretary Dirk Kempthorne issued
say: “This listing will not stop global
Clayton Jernigan of Earthjustice.
a word of caution: The listing of the
climate change or prevent any sea ice
The no-fault inclusion of the polar The sense of victimhood is easy
polar bear should not be seen as a
from melting.” Of course it won’t,
bear on the list of endangered species
template for solving climate change.
because the Bush administration is
is doubly ironic because, on the same
to understand, knowing the poverty
It would be “wholly inappropriate” to
not prepared to stop, say, power plants
day of the announcement, a group
do that, Kempthorne said.
from operating or oil exploration
of reputable scientists published in
that has driven so many women
The Endangered Species Act “is
companies from drilling in areas at
Nature magazine the results of a
away from home
not the right tool to set US climate
risk.
comprehensive study confirming that
policy,” he said, echoing the view of
“They’re trying to make this a
global warming is in fact man-made.
President Bush. What he means, as
threatened listing in name only, with
“Humans are influencing climate
will remain forever unknown.
the ballad “Hindi Kita Malilimutan”
environmentalists and Democratic through increasing greenhouse gas
They’re more mysterious than those
turned things even sadder and
legislators immediately pointed
instances of local people hurling
more depressing. It made me want
out, was that the listing would have
The science
emissions,” said lead author Cynthia
Rosenzweig. “The warming world
heavy objects off their high-rise
to yell “Justice for Vicky!” right
no impact on ongoing oil and gas
behind the listing
is causing impacts on physical and
buildings, sometimes harming
inside the church, but instead I took
exploration in the Arctic waters, the biological systems attributable at the
persons below, or of the deranged
my anger outside. Several women
polar bear’s increasingly vulnerable of the polar bear global scale.”
Tin Shui Wai mother last year who
were standing listlessly around,
habitat. In announcing the listing,
threw her children off their high-
murmuring among themselves and
the Cabinet official presented a
is solid ... but
The science behind the listing of the
polar bear is solid; but the ideology
rise flat before jumping off herself.
I approached some, suggesting we
wealth of data described in the
Sadly, the tragedies of Hong Kong
shout “Justice for Vicky” as people
Associated Press report as showing
the ideology
that seeks to contain the consequences
of this listing in a virtual vacuum is an
life seem more prevalent among the
filed out. “Huwag na lang,” a few
“the dramatic decline in sea ice over
[behind it] is an
immovable object. For White House
migrant workers.
said timorously, but some women
the last 30 years and projections that skeptics of the Kyoto Protocol, it is
Local agencies, like the Mission
(who turned out to be members of
the melting of ice – a key habitat iomm vable object business as usual.
for Migrant Workers and the
the Jesus is Lord sect) were gung-
Helpers for Domestic Helpers, have
ho. So half a dozen of us began the
handled countless cases of abuse
chant, making it louder and louder.
involving non-payment of wages,
A historic public utility unworthy of our trust
Soon, others joined in, then mass
physical violence, attempted rape
chanting of “Justice for Vicky”
and rape itself. Many cases have
continued for some 10 minutes.
We learned with dismay this week
OTHERvOICEs
owned companies pocket the higher
not been prosecuted because the
We didn’t care if the residents of
that consumers in Metro Manila have
victims were too frightened to take
neighboring flats heard us – in
manila standard today
profits.
been shouldering the Manila Electric • Eight top executives of the power
on the establishment or they felt too
fact,we hoped they did.
Co’s costs of doing business — distribution company will be paid
traumatized, preferring to return
The next day the headline in the
including its own power consumption
losses,” a cost, he hastens to add, that
P97 million this year, while the
home defeated.
South China Morning Post article
of 71 million kilowatt hours, or about
the Energy Regulatory Commission
officers and directors as a group will
The Hong Kong police have a
on the case read: “Mourners for
P500 million a year.
allows it to pass on to consumers.
get P170 million. This seems rather
reputation of being the most honest
drowned Filipina maid want ‘Justice
This revelation comes to us by
During the hearing, we also learned
extravagant in a company that has
and efficient in Asia, on a par with
for Vicky’. ” Subsequent rallies at
way of answers given by Meralco’s
that:
4,000 supervisors for 3,000 rank-and-
Singapore’s finest. They tackle our Consulate (urging their support)
president, Jesus Francisco, at a long
• Meralco buys a good portion of
file workers.
cases of corruption and prostitution and at the Queensway police
overdue congressional investigation
its power from two sister companies,
• Meralco also wants its customers
with dispatch, but when it comes to headquarters (demanding a thorough
into the high power rates.
which charge more than the National
to shoulder its bad debts worth P14
migrant workers’ deaths (violent or investigation) have echoed with that
Under questioning, Francisco
Power Corp. does.
billion.
otherwise), investigations somehow angry chant. Whether Vicky Flores
admitted that such a charge was
These high costs are again passed
Is it really any wonder our power
don’t seem as painstaking. But the will truly have justice remains to be
tucked under the category of “system
on to consumers, while the Lopez-
rates are so high?
outcry over Vicenta Flores’ alleged seen.
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