MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos working in Hong Kong are feeling the negative impact brought about by Monday’s hostage crisis that left 8 Hong Kong tourists dead in Manila.

Pinoys working in the former British Crown Colony said they feel uncomfortable and at the same time afraid as some locals vent their anger on them over the bloody incident.

“Ang karanasan ko sa isang shop, ang sabi nila sa amin kung Pilipina daw kami. Sabi namin oo. Sabi nila sa amin ang mga pulis daw sa Pilipinas ay garbage. Parang natatakot ako sa mga Chinese kasi kung tingnan ka simula pataas, pababa,” said OFW Aileen.

The 8 tourists, composed of 5 Hong Kong Chinese and 3 Canadian citizens, were among the passengers on a bus parked at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila when they were held hostage by a disgruntled dismissed police officer identified as Rolando Mendoza.
 
The more than 10-hour standoff ended bloody with 9 people dead, including the hostage taker.

“Siyempre nahihiya din bilang a Filipino tapos ganoon ang nangyari. Dito kami nagtatrabaho," Regilda Ramos said.

The United Filipinos in Hong Kong also received complaints that some Filipinas were badmouthed while in the train. Others were snubbed for being brown-skinned.

Sad incident

At the Philippine Consulate Office in Hong Kong, Vice Consul Joy Banagudos tearfully apologized to Chinese protesters for the tragedy.
 
“This is a very sad incident between the Philippines and the people of Hong Kong and I'm very, very sorry for what has happened," Banagudos said.

It was the second time that Chinese protesters picketed the Consulate’s office.

On Wednesday, Emman Villanueva, secretary-general of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, told ANC's Top Story on Wednesday that they received reports that Filipino workers have lost their jobs due to the tragic incident in Manila.

“There are unconfirmed reports that 2 OFWs were sacked by their boss in relation to this incident,” Villanueva said adding that their group is now verifying the veracity of the report.

Villanueva said that some of their local Chinese friends have told them about the ongoing discussions that are generating anti-Filipino sentiments in the online community.

He also revealed that potential Hong Kong employers have cancelled hiring Filipino workers.

“This morning a call from a friend of mine who is working for an employment agency told me that 2 employers backed out from hiring Filipinos. Their contracts are already being processed but called them up to cancel the processing,” Villanueva said.

Awash with abuse

Agence France-Presse reported that about 70,000 people have signed on to a Facebook page set up by the Hong Kong government for citizens to mourn the hostage victims. Many of the messages are respectful. But the Internet is also awash with abuse of Filipinos.

"I have already told my Filipino maid to find another job. I have decided to hire a local Hong Kong granny or a new immigrant from mainland China to be my domestic helper," Angel Hong wrote on the Facebook memorial page.

Raine Kan wrote: "I will never again go to the Philippines. I will also ask my children and grandchildren not to go to this country!!!"

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, has called for unity, saying the city's Filipino residents "share our sorrow and frustration".

The South China Morning Post said retribution against Filipinos was misplaced and "smacks of racism".

"They are as much innocent bystanders to the tragedy as we are and deserve to be treated as such," the daily said in an editorial.

‘Don’t blame OFWs’

Meanwhile, Filipino groups in Hong Kong condoled with the families of those who perished in the hostage crisis.

In a joint statement, the Filipinos Migrant Workers Union (FMWU), the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-Migrante-HK), Gabriela Hong Kong, and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-HK) said they share the Hong Kong people’s shock and dismay over how the crisis was handled.

“The Philippine authorities still owe explanations to the victims, to those who have to bear the trauma of the ordeal, to the people of Hong Kong and the Filipinos who are indignant over what happened,” the groups said in a statement.

Garry Martinez of Migrante International said that OFWs in Hong Kong and in other countries should not be blamed for the tragic incident.

“Hindi dapat pagbayaran ng ating mga OFWs ang kapalpakan ng gobyerno sa naganap na trahedya. We demand to hear concrete measures by the Philippine government and the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong to prevent untoward incidents from happening to our kababayans. Mangyayari lamang ito kung maagap na mapapanagot ang mga nagkulang,” Martinez said. – From reports of Nadia Trinidad, ABS-CBN News and Agence France-Presse