THE MALU FERNANDEZ SCANDAL: ENDING

Malu Fernandez apologized and resigned. I cannot resist but to write about Malu in one among the last blog entries concerning the subject in pinoyblogosphere yesterday by espousing the idea that she and her publisher should address the issue squarely the soonest possible time. The movement condemning her 1, 2 pages article which came out on the June 30, 2007 issue of People Asia triggered public condemnation about how she maligned OFWs. Her antagonistic answer to public outcry for her to apologize added fuel to the fire that professional bloggers, writers, communication experts and specialists, public relation consultants, old and young alike who surfs and frequenting the net feasted and joined the band wagon.

It was in tingog.com, which I suspect was authored by a Cebuano, mentioned in Marko’s site that hits hard right at the heart of the publisher, now proposing to ban and boycott Manila Standard Today and People Asia. As you search in Google or Yahoo for her name, Malu became an instant record holder. If there is a person most hated by her countryman maybe, it’s none other than Malu. Other sites from anonymous authors begin to sprout, now, clamouring for others to join the prey to boycott Manila Standard Today and People Asia. It was then that some joined calling for sobriety for the publisher and Malu to address the issue squarely immediately. It was providential that Malu opted to extend her apology and tender her resignation, maybe upon realizing the extent of the damage caused by the snowballing effect of the controversy. Malu resigned. It might have been the honorable way for her publisher and their editors.

If there is a lesson to be learned from the above experience – in today’s world of advance digital age – one thing was proven: corporations, publication houses and big media outfit does not have the monopoly of the media to stir public opinion. Individuals, independent publishers, artists and private citizens, in their own right may freely participate and express their own views and opinions through the use of modern technology, the internet, which power to influence people is more of a reality than perception. The Malu Fernandez incident awakened Pilipino sentiment worldwide. It demonstrated to the world how Pilipinos took a stand on issue affecting a class within their own social structure. Unlucky, the object of criticism is one of their own. Unlucky, it has caused damage to the publisher of Malu’s article. Whether they like it or not, the stain remains on the outfit where Malu’s article were published and it may take time to heal.

Others may go on with the advocay. Others may choose to close that part of history in blogging communities to look forward for a more challenging exercise when the situation calls for our spirit of patriotism to once again be awakened. The Malu Fernandez scandal.