Racial discrimination is just one of the problems encountered by many overseas Filipino workers (OFW) around the world. It may only be words but it surely pinches the heart when you heard it from a stranger in an unfamiliar territory. Things like impolitely telling you to go home or implying that a certain space is only for "white people". We can get used to hearing any of it but it is still wrong and racial discrimination should not exist anywhere. Besides, OFWs are there to work and try to make a decent living legally.
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A Filipino family taking a holiday in Wellington, New Zealand suffered a shock after getting a racist tirade by a resident last week.
18-year-old Krizia Alexa Egipto said she and her family were on vacation in Wellington last October 26 after she renewed her passport when they decided to go to Night n Day Manners Street coffee shop to get a coffee.
While waiting for their order, Egipto's father, who works as a dairy farmworker in Winton, struck up a conversation with another Filipino who was inside the shop.
During the conversation, a woman who was behind them suddenly spoke out: "Can you guys be quiet?”
Egipto, a student at Southern Institute of Technology, said they were surprised by the woman's retort since the conversation between her parents and the other Filipino was not loud. Nevertheless, she said her parents decided to step out, with Egipto following close behind.
It was after her parents had already stepped out of the coffee shop when the woman again spoke out: "Don't come back here. You're not welcome here. This is only for white people. This country is for white people only."
Surprised, Egipto said she asked the woman: "Is this yours? Is this your shop?” The woman, however, ignored her.
In her anger, she said she uttered expletives and called the woman a racist.
"You are a racist. We haven't done anything to you!"
18-year-old Krizia Alexa Egipto said she and her family were on vacation in Wellington last October 26 after she renewed her passport when they decided to go to Night n Day Manners Street coffee shop to get a coffee.
While waiting for their order, Egipto's father, who works as a dairy farmworker in Winton, struck up a conversation with another Filipino who was inside the shop.
During the conversation, a woman who was behind them suddenly spoke out: "Can you guys be quiet?”
Egipto, a student at Southern Institute of Technology, said they were surprised by the woman's retort since the conversation between her parents and the other Filipino was not loud. Nevertheless, she said her parents decided to step out, with Egipto following close behind.
It was after her parents had already stepped out of the coffee shop when the woman again spoke out: "Don't come back here. You're not welcome here. This is only for white people. This country is for white people only."
Surprised, Egipto said she asked the woman: "Is this yours? Is this your shop?” The woman, however, ignored her.
In her anger, she said she uttered expletives and called the woman a racist.
"You are a racist. We haven't done anything to you!"
Hearing the commotion, the manager of the store came out and said: 'We don't use that language here."
Egipto said she had to calm down and explain what happened, prompting the store management to ask the woman to leave. Her parents also comforted Egipto.
She said her family resumed walking around Wellington when they chanced on the same woman sitting on a bench who again subjected them to the same racist tirade.
The woman continues to utter mean discriminative words despite Egipto's explanation that they have visas that gave them the legal right to stay in New Zealand.
She said that after the incident, two women walked up to them - one of whom gave her a hug. Another woman even gave her an ice cream.
"She said: 'Can I hug you?' And I said: 'Sure, yeah.' I started crying. I was so overwhelmed. She told me: 'What you did there was the right thing to do.' She didn't know if she would have done the same thing. And she said: 'I am really proud of what you did. You guys are welcome here in New Zealand,'" Egipto said.
In an interview, Egipto said the mayor of Wellington personally called her up to apologize for the incident.
"A staff member asked for my number and then the mayor of Wellington (Justin Lester) called me up to apologize about what happened. He also said that if I ever go back to Wellington, that he would personally take me on a tour to show how much he appreciates us," Egipto said.
"I was really surprised and overwhelmed because that is the mayor of Wellington, which is the capital of New Zealand," she added.
Egipto said she had to calm down and explain what happened, prompting the store management to ask the woman to leave. Her parents also comforted Egipto.
She said her family resumed walking around Wellington when they chanced on the same woman sitting on a bench who again subjected them to the same racist tirade.
The woman continues to utter mean discriminative words despite Egipto's explanation that they have visas that gave them the legal right to stay in New Zealand.
She said that after the incident, two women walked up to them - one of whom gave her a hug. Another woman even gave her an ice cream.
"She said: 'Can I hug you?' And I said: 'Sure, yeah.' I started crying. I was so overwhelmed. She told me: 'What you did there was the right thing to do.' She didn't know if she would have done the same thing. And she said: 'I am really proud of what you did. You guys are welcome here in New Zealand,'" Egipto said.
In an interview, Egipto said the mayor of Wellington personally called her up to apologize for the incident.
"A staff member asked for my number and then the mayor of Wellington (Justin Lester) called me up to apologize about what happened. He also said that if I ever go back to Wellington, that he would personally take me on a tour to show how much he appreciates us," Egipto said.
"I was really surprised and overwhelmed because that is the mayor of Wellington, which is the capital of New Zealand," she added.
The Mayor of Wellington has personally reached out to the Filipino family. Mayor Justin Lester said that he had seen the video and was appalled by the woman's comments.
"Her abuse in no way represents the views of the vast majority of Wellingtonians and how they would like visitors to be treated," the Mayor said.
"No visitor should expect to hear that wherever they go.
"Wellington is one of the most multicultural centers in New Zealand and for years has opened its arms to people from around the globe.
"This is an isolated incident and should not be tolerated," the Mayor added.
Filed under the category of Racial discrimination, overseas Filipino workers, unfamiliar territory, only for "white people", New Zealand, OFW.
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