Press Release
March 31, 2009

Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

"NATION OF SERVANTS"

We are right to protest against what a columnist of a Hong Kong magazine said that the Philippines is a "nation of servants". The slur is racist, condemnable and humiliating. It is fitting that the publishers have apologized for the insult, and have acknowledged that the thousands of Filipino domestic helpers "make an important contribution" to the HK community.

But the incident should for us be a wake-up call. We dub our overseas workers "heroes" because they sacrifice so much to help their families at home and also contribute to our nation's economic survival through their hard-earned remittances. But the great majority of them would rather work at home, be with their families, care for their children, than suffer loneliness and possibly harsh and cruel treatment from their employers who do not understand their culture and would take advantage of their necessity.

I appeal to our government and all our political and social leaders to ADOPT MEASURES to make our country a proper place not only to live in, but to work in.

SCHOOL TUITION

With hard times falling upon us, not just because of bad governance but also because of the bad world economic situation, I call upon the schools and universities, public and private, not to raise the tuition fees when the school year opens in June.

Because of rising unemployment and lower economic growth, poverty is spreading, and more and more families are unable to send their children to schools and colleges, especially if tuitions are raised. We all have to sacrifice, and the school administrations, especially in the private sector, should sacrifice along with the rest.

I welcome and praise the administrators of 178 Central Luzon schools and colleges for their decision not to raise tuition fees in the coming school year. The nation owes them a debt of gratitude.

ABU SAYYAF

I appeal to the Abu Sayyaf to spare the lives and free the three hostages of the International Red Cross that they hold. The death of any of these hostages would not help them achieve their political and social objectives.

If anything it would only make other Filipinos more distrustful of their intentions, and make it more difficult for the government to enter into fruitful negotiations with them to settle the conflict.

The shedding of more blood, especially of non-combatants and the innocent, would only cause more blood to flow. Negotiations could not successfully be pursued on a blood-drenched table.

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