Thursday, August 09, 2007

The abominable snob-woman

Every so often, we have the misfortune of encountering people so horrid, so utterly despicable, that we are left sputtering in a fit of disbelieving outrage ("I can't believe someone could be so hateful!"). Usually, these loathsome characters are fictional, such as Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series, or Jabba the Hutt, or any antagonist played by actor David Morse. But occasionally, we run into the real thing, and we are unpleasantly reminded of the existence of vile beings who walk among us.

One such vile being writes a column for the Manila Standard, and goes by the name Malu Fernandez. Yang sent me this link to a blog post by her friend Jae, who was writing in reaction to an article the self-declared "divalicious" Ms. Fernandez contributed to the magazine People Asia. Apparently, this charming woman fancies herself a jet-setter and connoisseur of the finer things in life.
In said article, she writes about an Emirates flight to Greece, and her mistake of deciding to travel in economy class. She laments that she wanted to slash her wrists upon learning she would be stuck in a plane full of OFWs, which she equates to a "private hell" God designed for her. She also describes it as "being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of Axe and Charlie cologne while my Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."

When you're done sputtering in outraged disbelief, I'd also like to share that this Malu Fernandez openly declares she is "
perennially stressed just by living in this godforsaken place in the Third World" (read more of her crappy writing here)
, which is apparently why she loves traveling so much with her well-heeled, ladeedah friends. If I ever find myself traveling in first class with this pretentious, egotistic social-climber, I'm transferring to coach.

As abhorrent as this bitch is, I am a bit more appalled at the editors of People Asia for allowing such elitist and RACIST remarks to be put in print. And they're supposed to be a magazine about Filipinos for Filipinos? Perhaps they should be more specific, that they're a publication for Filipinos who can afford to vacation in Greece and turn their noses down at Boracay villas, dismissing them as "rustic" (the word Malu Fernandez chose to use in her Manila Standard column).

I'm a self-professed capitalist myself, and I won't pretend I'm a champion for the masses, or that I take up the cudgels for all noble social causes. And I cannot conceal that I lead a comfortable, sometimes lavish, lifestyle. But you will never, NEVER hear me blatantly belittling anyone below my socioeconomic class, nor would I ever act so condescendingly towards anyone who can't afford the same luxuries I enjoy. That would be absolutely reprehensible, and offensive, and LOW. Shameless snobs like Malu Fernandez have too many privileges in life as it is. They should not be given the additional privilege of airing their sickeningly skewed views of the world in supposedly respectable publications.

Oh, and the Malu Fernandez monster actually had the audacity to defend her "humorous", "tongue-in-cheek" People Asia piece in another of her badly composed columns: "If any of these people actually read anything thicker then a magazine they would find it very funny." Well I'm a voracious reader, Ms. Fernandez, and I didn't find it funny at all. Unless by "funny" you meant "repulsive", which it is, and which you are.

31 Comments:

At Thursday, August 09, 2007, Blogger Taroogs said...

In the other link that you posted at the Jae Fever Blog, someone wondered why this woman's column were being published in the first place. I have an idea why -- she inadvertently dropped a hint in the very same column that the commenter, yiellowdhiow, was referring to. I quote:

"Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabes. One group will never get the culture of the other. Although I could mention that it is easier to understand someone who has a lower socioeconomic background that would entail a whole other page and frankly I don’t want to be someone to bridge the gap between socioeconomic classes. I leave that to the politicians in my family who believe they can actually help..."

Obviously, she (or her family) has enough political or economic (probably both) clout to get her trash published!

 
At Thursday, August 09, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

Good observation! This wretched woman obviously relies on her connections in the upper echelons to get ahead in life. She certainly didn't do it on merit alone, if the quality of her writing is any indication.

 
At Thursday, August 09, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I clicked the link and I read the article in full and I think I think I've lost my appetite for dinner. If her friends find her jokes about OFWs hilarious, then that's one barkadahan I don't want to be part of. And that's a culture I dont want to get. Hello, and on the point that people who read books thicker than a magazine are bound to find her funny: I read a lot, boy liempo reads a lot, you read a lot, and the people who've commented on my blog are all intelligent insightful people who read a lot. Pero we've all reached a consensus that this woman is one abhorrent, self-absorbed bitch.

And just to be a bit on the catty side, her store Luscious is mga two seasons too late. Hahaha.

 
At Thursday, August 09, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

She has the gall of putting down a successful local brand like Secosana (saying that "going from Station 1 [of Boracay] down to Station 2, 3, 4 is like going from a Gucci bag to a Secosana bag in a nano second") when she has her own local apparel brand, one that isn't even doing half as well. What, is Luscious in the same league as Dior or Chanel? Puhleez.

 
At Saturday, August 11, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hear Hear. :) I can't believe people like that openly insult other Filipinos. It gives Filipinos quite a bad name and shows how unpatriotic one is. If she wants to leave so badly, why doesn't she do so? I'm certainly not going to stop her from migrating to another country. While she's at it, why not change her citizenship as well.

 
At Saturday, August 11, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

We all have gripes about the Philippines and our fellow Filipinos, but when all's said and done, this is home, and we're all proud to be Pinoy. This woman obviously thinks she's too good for the rest of us. She's welcome to leave anytime, but I doubt she would, because in any other country, SHE would be looked down on by snobs richer and more entitled than her.

 
At Thursday, August 16, 2007, Blogger Unknown said...

this is my favorite reaction to that manila standard article of fernandez. you clearly showed the difference in class of your writing styles.

impressive, how you were able to resist even the slightest mention of anything not related to her article (such as her picture/weight).

i'm curious if manila standard has already printed something in reaction to the hundreds or so hate-e-mails i'm sure they've already received. can i check your blog every now and then for updates?

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

the way she writes her articles made me realize that manners & breeding don't really signify socio-economic status and clan, where people come from...

she allegedly have high profile in the philppine society, not to mention the political connections (yeah whatever!).... but seriously??? does she have a breeding?....

from the time we were molded in our homes up to the time we leave school, it has been thought that one of the best attributes in life is RESPECT! c'mon!!! were did these all go? i salute ofw's, as they contribute a lot 2 the economy in our country..& hey! it doesn't matter how poor u are..bottom line is,... manners & self-respect do count...

& hello??? why is she so proud of what she have??? omg!!! ofws can buy jo malone & louis vuitton...& hey! they don't brag about it, & that's "proper manners"... i agree to jae that her store choice is a season too late...lolz!!!!

poor girl!!!she really should buy some "MANNERS"... just dnt wanna go thru abt my opininion if she really can "carry" all those mentioned brands... & hey!!! i know loads of people who hav the same status as hers, but have high honour to people wid low-economic status--- "& THAT'S PROPER BREEDING" ....

what a miserable thinking...it's not funny!!! especially knowing that she can't justify what she's wearing... pulezzzzzzzz!!!

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

Sugeina: Thanks for your kind words, and you're more than welcome to check my blog for updates. I emailed the editor of People Asia about this, but as of today I have yet to receive a reply. I expected as much. Well-connected socialites like Ms. Fernandez are protected from censure by the blanket of wealth and influence.

Anonymous: I agree with you that respect is one of the most basic-- if not THE most basic-- values all decent human beings should uphold, and Malu Fernandez obviously doesn't belong in that category.

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Blogger Unknown said...

she didn't get laid.

so now, she's trying to screw everybody

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To alot of people, the most satisfying incident that happens when they go on a long trip, especially to some faraway places, the one they remember and talk (even boast) about, is their sexual escapades; that they had a piece of *ss or gotten laid. This is true especially to single persons like this woman.

Apparently, on the trips she has taken, she never got laid.

Now she's making up for it. She's out to screw everybody.

A

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

a friend let me read that article and it just made me really mad at this woman. who does she think she is? if she came from a political family and have friends in high places then maybe its no wonder well remain a third world country forever? OFW's are whats keeping us afloat. She says she came from a political family maybe thats where she gets the money do be bitchy-bitchy.(pork barrel anyone) hahaha pork, like what she is. can anything be done to punish her or something? she deserves to be punished.

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

she's a disgrace to the filipino society... obviously bitter & miserable... she kept attacking her country of birth...yeah!!! it's 3rd world (as she said) - so what??? if she can't leave with it, better build a place she can call her own...

& btw, is she an heiress??? just curious --- 'coz even the richest people in the world don't do that...they do their own thing, but don't attack people who don't have the same economic status as theirs...

she's so "derranged", obviously...

 
At Friday, August 17, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

I don't know if it will amount to anything, but I've sent an email to her editors at both People Asia and the Manila Standard. I haven't received any response so far, and I doubt I will. People like Malu Fernandez are protected by a blanket of wealth and influence, so they get away with atrocities like this. It's infuriating, and sad too.

 
At Saturday, August 18, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

whatever happened to :

"I may not agree with what you said but I'll defend to death your right to say it"?

I don't agree with what she said, but I thought they were consistent with her avocation.

 
At Saturday, August 18, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

josko, nakakagigil at nakakainit ng ulo ang baboy, este, babaeng yan. nanginginig ang laman ko sa galit noh!! di ako makapaniwalang may taong ganyan. if she can't stand this godforsaken country, why doesn't she leave? siguro kasi wala siyang choice but to live here.

 
At Sunday, August 19, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

my parents are OFWs, i am married to one and i really am outraged by the fact that there is someone there who pretends to be be who she is belittling my fellow filipinos who really are the new heroes of this country that i love...

here's a link of my bulletin post on friendster

http://www.friendster.com/bulletin.php?statpos=bulletintable&bid=5621592&uid=15424371

 
At Sunday, August 19, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

there's no such place as pleasant to live than to living in a democratic-free country like what we have-- our "beloved Philippines"...---where we can enjoy the comfortability of being free; free to do whatever pleases us provided that it doesn't violates the law and affect the peaceful intentions of others around us, and...the freedom to express our views, opinions, beliefs or anything that composes our mind may it through writing or just simply verbally uttered....this freedom is paramount...

"freedom of speech"..

being in the free world we exercise and tolerate this so-called freedom of speech and sometimes allow others to push it to its maximum limit yet most often beyond.
nowadays, to some people, "it" is no longer defined or considered as a gift or a blessing to being in a democratic world (like we are in)since some of us often use it as a tool to attack or counter-attack against the people in one way or another have caused us pain or just simply hurt our egos--which is to my own opinion is kinda fairly toleratable or acceptable in some sense- at least compare to what this bumptious "malu fernandez" have written in her pointless article which is far different as she irresponsibly said something that her rational self is aware of that it would undoubtedly annoy her hungry-for- information readers and would definitely hurt those guiltless people (whom she had humiliated) who are unawarely mentioned in it that in fact have done nothing wrong directly against her will.--sounds to be very trivial to me....

"fluctuating tones, different words used yet, delivered the same message"--

comments posted by different people who share the same anger against her have caught my attention and decided to read a few before jumping on to that "very controversial" article of the aforementioned CRASS rare-type animal....
as i was reading from one's comment to the other i found out that all of them, basing on the words that they've used were really pronouncing their boiling hatred against her (though their tone varies from the others)so, for the sake of curiosity i clicked the image or page to enlarge it and to enable me to clearly read what's on it...

"caught by surprise"...

as i started reading her article i could sense that there was something "rancid" in the personality this writer has.( though i was impressed by her being eloquent in english language)...thus, frankly speaking,..basing on my discernment,...she sounded like a SAD,PATHETIC,SICK BRAGGART!..i suppose to stop reading it just not to have my time be wasted but my curiosity fuelled my will to finish it to allow my analytical self discover what was really said on it that triggered and made these "NUMEROUS INTELLECTUALS" have their hearts boiling up with anger-in unison against her.
while i was half way to finish it i could sensed my calmness started to fade and abruptly that unusual anger exploded in my system upon reading her absurd statements belittling the OFW's (including myself!)while sneakily tries to tell people of her worth and that she is somebody who deserves to be exalted...( i mean she sounds like-- to my analysis)...
what surprised me was how can this animal (sorry for using this term as i couldn't find the right word to address her as she doesn't deserve to be addressed as lady, woman or even a girl,...that basing on her behaviour the real bitch {[a female dog]to my eyes}, is even worthy than her) afford to step on many people's heads to give herself the glory she is earnestly seeking of?...for me, to be honest, i don't really care if she brag about anything in her or about her since being in a free world she's free to do it (though it might not be acceptable to some) it is her prerogative and i have to respect that. thus, regarding or speaking of other people as having a little worth to promote herself to be applauded by some is a big no-no to me....
being a writer, it is a must that she learn some ethics and embrace or practice etiquette for her to attract more readers of her articles in the near future and not to chase those readers away because of her insensitivity.shouls she still wants to keep her job (as a writer) to indulge her keep her self-steem soar….

"the worst thing"...

though she's already aware of those negative comments against her, she still possesses that stale guts to say that other people couldn't understand her "acerbic wit" (which i found to be a moronic, ludicrous disgusting joke)..using it as an excuse of her insensitivity and not apologise to her readers instead! what a stupid cow! does this fat-arse gravitationally challenged c**t never taught values at home and at school?

lastly,

the way she behaves just reminded me of the story about the beautiful youth who fell in love with his reflection in a pool and pined away whose name was NARCISSUS...this animal is even worse...she's not a conceited c**t but an a***hole who've got the balls to humiliate others.....a f****ng idiot NARCISSIST!

 
At Sunday, August 19, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

u want me 2 chek ur blood pressure, jnamdc?...lolz!!! told yah!!! the article was quite infuriating...

big sick biatch!!! cant help but roll my eyes...

 
At Monday, August 20, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

amdjeihahaha....thanks anonymous 8(jrm) for the special kindness you're offering me...much appreciated!...i don't need to have my bp checked though...hehehe.... i'm aware that it is [still] on its peak and i don't want it to sink even a fraction not until i get my fair share.......
'twas your fault anyway...i coudn't have posted a comment like that should you not let that annoying-senseless article of malu fernandez slipped through to be picked up by my radar --causing my peaceful existence to be captured by an strange anger!just kidding..hahaha....

but, yeah, many thanks to you for making me aware of it....i never thought that somebody has got the balls to mock the OFWs publicly like what the latter did..since in many ways, we (the OFWs family)contribute a lot to helping our country's economic status grow more stronger...


yet,i've noticed one thing (to be fair to her) that i, for one should thank her..... that through her insensitive actions, i have noticed how united and compassionate to others we the filipinos are especially being in a circumstance such this...and, I SALUTE YOU MY BELOVED FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN!

by the way, i strongly disagree of the thought and not in a million years i will accept that my beloved motherland "THE PHIPLIPPINES" belongs to the third world!....WE ARE IN A DEVELOPING WORLD, MY GOODNESS!!!!...i've been blessed with a job that i can travel for free and see a lot of different beautiful places in this planet and there's no place that comes close to the Philippines when it comes to natural beauty not to mention the beyond-compare wonderful people dwelling in it.


and one more thing, i encourage everyone of us to keep our spirit of patriotism intact and continue to give honour to our beloved country "THE PHILIPPINES" wherever we may be.... thanks!

 
At Tuesday, August 21, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i only have two words for this woman... "walang breeding!"

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Blogger Unknown said...

I have no problems with jetsetters in general, nor is her lack of care for others outside her inner circle really unique. These have been stereotypes propagated across all societies, not just the Philippines. However, what I cannot understand is why she stays in the so-called "Godforsaken" land. If she feels no patriotism for the country she was born in or no ties to it, then the logical option would be to leave it for a land where you'd feel comfortable in. She obviously has the means to do so.

Insulting the country she persistently continues to live in is like cutting off her nose to spite her face. Its very hypocritical. She should either a. stay and hopefully help the country progress and improve; b. Stay in the country and kindly shut up and stop whinging about how "godforsaken" she finds the Philippines to be and leave it to the people who care about it or c. For God's sake, just leave.

Its so disheartening to hear someone diss the Philippines so publicly. I have my own gripes about the Philly but damnit, its just bad form to insult PEOPLE.

This woman is driving me to swearing. Gods.

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As i read the article of this woman i feel soorrry for her that she needs really help regarding her attitude and if she is in her mind she will not say this rubbish things.

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mukhang napilitan na din sa wakas ang Manila (sub)Standard Today na mag-issue ng official reply tungkol sa Malu Fernandez Scandal. Ang kaso, imbes na magpaliwanag o humingi ng dispensa, sinusubukan pa nilang palabnawin yung isyu sa pamamagitan ng pag-gamit sa "we are all guilty" argument. Pweh!

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=connieVeneracion_aug23_2007

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

I actually think it's a reasonable response from the Manila Standard, or at least from one of their more level-headed columnists. I agree with Atty. Veneracion's last lines:

"No, I didn’t find the People Asia article funny. I thought it was insensitive and insulting and bordering on libelous. But neither am I amused nor impressed at some of the reactions in the Philippine blogging community—some are nothing short of libelous either."

I just wish she had ended on a note against her fellow columnist instead of rebuking members of the blogging community who may have let their anger get the better of them.

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Blogger eternaloptimist said...

Tama nga naman siya, calling Malu Fernandez names isn't exactly the way to deal with the issue... Pero at the end of it all, the bloggers were all reacting to Malu Fernandez's article... Yung article pa rin ang mali.

Fine, people may have gone overboard in calling Malu Fernandez names, but point is, the bloggers are merely REACTING... They didn't start all this.

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Blogger Unknown said...

the reaction is logical. what else could the people's reaction be
other than criticising her physical appearance after she complained of the bruises she got from travelling in economy class? and many other inane things she discussed.
it is true that many bloggers' comments border on the exlicit.
in the first place, that woman who calls herself a writer wrote a very insensitive, stupid piece of bragging, err writing.
no wonder the people are asking for her blood.
the difference between Malu Fernandez and the bloggers is that Malu writes for a paper and magazine and she has editors and publisher who could address or point out the insensitivity of her write-ups. the bloggers write in their space where they can discuss their own no-holds-barred opinion.
ps: i don't recall the media calling the OFWs modern-day heroes, it was President Cory Aquino and her government. therefore it is our government that first acknowledged the migrant workers' worth aside from their own families. i think.

 
At Thursday, August 23, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 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 their half 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 enjoying 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.

 
At Friday, August 24, 2007, Blogger Ailee Through the Looking Glass said...

Noi, thanks for that long, insightful comment.

To everyone else who may be following this thread, some of you may have heard of or seen the TV Patrol report that Malu Fernandez has issued an apology and has resigned from both People Asia and the Manila Standard. Before rejoicing prematurely, however, please take a look at this blog: http://cmfr-phil.blogspot.com/

 
At Friday, August 24, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pinay Leona Helmsley a.k.a. Diva Siya Sira a.k.a. Malu Fernandez

The Queen of Mean just passed away, and even before she crossed over someone dito sa Pinas took over her throne. The Queen is dead, long live the Queen.

 
At Friday, August 31, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If poor Malu thinks she was stuck in her private hell being suffocated with cheap perfumes worn by the OFWs, can u imagine the agony of the OFWs sitting next to her? My goodness, the poor souls must have endured NINE LONG HOURS of being stuck in cramp quarters because of her vile and physically imposing figure is spilling out of their seats?

She even had the nerve to say that she acquired bruises in the process. I wonder what kind of injuries were sustained by those OFWs just to be with their families.

 

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