Despite offers of apology on a controversial article which was deemed racist by many Filipinos, the ban on Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao from entering the Philippines remains, the Philippines’ top immigration official said.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said Tsao himself would have to apply to Philippine authorities to have the ban lifted.

“Tsao can request from the [Philippine] Consulate sa Hong Kong who will then communicate to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” said Libanan in an interview Wednesday.

Libanan said the DFA would inform the Bureau of Immigration if the Tsao has been removed from the blacklist.

The immigration commissioner earlier said Tsao will only be removed from the immigration blacklist if he issues a public apology for the derogatory article he wrote about Filipinos.

Libanan issued on Monday night the order placing Tsao in the immigration blacklist for being an undesirable alien.

“This is our manifestation of disgust against the racial slur and insult committed by Mr. Tsao against us as a people,” Libanan said in a statement after announcing the issuance of the blacklist order.

Libanan also chided Tsao for his “arrogance and disrespect to the country and the Filipino people.”

Malacañang meanwhile is taking a wait and see stance on the apology of Tsao

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they are still considering his apology and whether or not they should accept it.

“Different interpretations”

The DFA on Wednesday confirmed that Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao has issued an apology on television in China’s Special Administrative Region.

In a text message to abs-cbnNEWS.com, the DFA said it received the information about Tsao’s apology from the report by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.

“The following is excerpt of Mr. Chip Tsao's interview aired 7 p.m. last night at ATV, a major local TV channel: ‘I realized that I had crossed the line...I now offer my public apology’",” the DFA stated in the text message.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Monday that Tsao allegedly never meant to insult Filipino domestic workers.

"The article was never intended to be insulting to the Filipino domestic workers," Tsao told AFP.

He added in the report that "English, being a global language, is open to different interpretations by those who come from various cultural backgrounds”.

"Has anyone been deeply upset, it was never my intention and I feel sorry," Tsao was quoted in the report.

On Monday, Tsao’s publisher and editors had issued an apology for their writer’s column. In their letter, the Asia City Publishing Group in Hong Kong apologized “unreservedly for any offense that may have been caused by Chip Tsao's column dated March 27".

HK Magazine explained that they have long been championing the rights of Filipinos working in Hong Kong.

"We note that Filipinos have often been unfairly treated in Hong Kong, and that they make an important contribution to this community," said HK Magazine.

HK Magazine added that Tsao's column entitled "The War At Home" was satirical.

Tsao earned widespread disapproval among Filipinos for his column “War At Home” published online by the HK Magazine on March 27.

In his column, Tsao called the Philippines a “nation of servants” unworthy to lay claim on the disputed Spratlys Island.

Tsao also made derogatory remarks against Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong.

He said he summoned his Filipino domestic assistant named Louisa and gave her a harsh lecture that Spratlys Island belongs to China. He even threatened to send her home if war breaks out between the Philippines and China.

The Spratlys Island is being disputed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Concerned about the safety of Tsao’s maid, the Philippine Consulate set out to locate her. They discovered that Tsao had no Filipino domestic worker under his employ. Louisa was actually working for Tsao’s father for 14 years now.

Continuing protest

Meanwhile, the group United Filipinos in Hong Kong is preparing to mobilize the Filipino community there on Sunday, April 5th for a protest against the article and writer.

On Monday, Tsao’s publisher and editors issued an apology for their writer’s column. In their letter, the Asia City Publishing Group in Hong Kong apologized “unreservedly for any offense that may have been caused by Chip Tsao's column dated March 27".

HK Magazine explained that they have long been championing the rights of Filipinos working in Hong Kong.

"We note that Filipinos have often been unfairly treated in Hong Kong, and that they make an important contribution to this community," said HK Magazine.

HK Magazine added that Tsao's column entitled "The War At Home" was satirical. With reports from Maricar Bautista and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News