Some Pinoys in Taiwan wear face masks to avoid trouble
As tension remained high between the Philippines and Taiwan over last week's fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman, Filipinos in Taiwan are avoiding trouble by wearing face masks when they have to go out in public.
In a radio interview Friday, "Roger," a Filipino factory worker in Taiwan, said this also allowed some Filipinos to blend in with Taiwanese who also wear face masks to protect themselves from pollution.
"Ginagawa ng Pilipino rito, meron silang mask, parang suot ng duktor, 'yan na lang ginagamit nila kaya nakiki-face mask na rin kami," Roger said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Other Filipino workers had been advised by their Taiwanese employers to pass themselves off as Indonesians so they would not be discriminated against, he said.
For now, he said Filipinos still feel the heat from the May 9 encounter in disputed waters where a Taiwanese fisherman was fatally shot by Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
The shooting initially prompted Taiwan to demand an apology and compensation for the slain fisherman's kin, as well as punishment for the guilty party and fishery cooperation talks.
But Taiwan said it was dissatisfied with the Philippines' response, and clamped down on the hiring of Filipino workers wishing to work there.
Also, Taiwan issued a red travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.
On Thursday, Roger said they learned at least one Filipino had been hospitalized after allegedly being beaten up by an attacker using a lead pipe.
He said Filipinos in Taiwan are also wary of Taiwanese carrying baseball bats, which they may use to assault them.
TV shows portraying Pinoys as thugs
Citing information he received from fellow Filipinos, Roger said the tension is particularly high in Pingtung, the hometown of the slain fisherman.
"Sobrang mainit ang sitwasyon dahil taga-doon ang napatay na mangingisda," he said.
"Grabe kung makatingin sila (Some Taiwanese give us bad stares when they realize we are Filipinos)," he added.
He also said local television stations show video clips of President Benigno Aquino III's late father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., brutally murdered in 1983.
The stations also showed footage of confrontations between Filipino and Taiwanese players in a Philippines-versus-Taiwan basketball match.
"(Pinapakita ang Pilipino) mga barumbado (The shows gave the impression that Filipinos are thugs)," he said.
For now, Roger said they do not go out much due to the tension.
He also said that while some Filipinos who could not go out had their meals rationed by employers, others like his employer allow them to cook their own meals.
He also said they can still cope with the situation for now.
"Okay lang kami rito ... Hanggang kaya, basta huwag lang sasaktan. Naniniwala kaming [maaayos] din 'yan," he said. — LBG, GMA News
In a radio interview Friday, "Roger," a Filipino factory worker in Taiwan, said this also allowed some Filipinos to blend in with Taiwanese who also wear face masks to protect themselves from pollution.
"Ginagawa ng Pilipino rito, meron silang mask, parang suot ng duktor, 'yan na lang ginagamit nila kaya nakiki-face mask na rin kami," Roger said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Other Filipino workers had been advised by their Taiwanese employers to pass themselves off as Indonesians so they would not be discriminated against, he said.
For now, he said Filipinos still feel the heat from the May 9 encounter in disputed waters where a Taiwanese fisherman was fatally shot by Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
The shooting initially prompted Taiwan to demand an apology and compensation for the slain fisherman's kin, as well as punishment for the guilty party and fishery cooperation talks.
But Taiwan said it was dissatisfied with the Philippines' response, and clamped down on the hiring of Filipino workers wishing to work there.
Also, Taiwan issued a red travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.
On Thursday, Roger said they learned at least one Filipino had been hospitalized after allegedly being beaten up by an attacker using a lead pipe.
He said Filipinos in Taiwan are also wary of Taiwanese carrying baseball bats, which they may use to assault them.
TV shows portraying Pinoys as thugs
Citing information he received from fellow Filipinos, Roger said the tension is particularly high in Pingtung, the hometown of the slain fisherman.
"Sobrang mainit ang sitwasyon dahil taga-doon ang napatay na mangingisda," he said.
"Grabe kung makatingin sila (Some Taiwanese give us bad stares when they realize we are Filipinos)," he added.
He also said local television stations show video clips of President Benigno Aquino III's late father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., brutally murdered in 1983.
The stations also showed footage of confrontations between Filipino and Taiwanese players in a Philippines-versus-Taiwan basketball match.
"(Pinapakita ang Pilipino) mga barumbado (The shows gave the impression that Filipinos are thugs)," he said.
For now, Roger said they do not go out much due to the tension.
He also said that while some Filipinos who could not go out had their meals rationed by employers, others like his employer allow them to cook their own meals.
He also said they can still cope with the situation for now.
"Okay lang kami rito ... Hanggang kaya, basta huwag lang sasaktan. Naniniwala kaming [maaayos] din 'yan," he said. — LBG, GMA News
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