Chinese people who are visiting the Philippines are reportedly experiencing bad treatment from Filipinos because they’re seen as a possible carrier of the virus.
Netizen, Noel Landero Sarifa is one of the netizens who saw the effects of the inhospitality experienced by some Chinese tourists in the Philippines amid the nCoV scare.
On his Facebook post, Sarifa narrated his encounter with a Chinese tourist who’s sitting next to him on a plane.
According to the netizen, the tourist apologized to him without any reason and trying to isolate himself from the other passengers in the whole duration of the flight.
Sarifa said that he almost became emotional on what he witnessed, pointing out that the Chinese people are already affected by the bad treatment they experienced from the Filipinos.
The netizen added that the Filipinos should stop treating the Chinese tourist badly and let them enjoy traveling around the Philippines.
You can read his post below:
“I experienced first hand the stigma the Filipino people have brought upon Chinese nationals. Pasakay ako ng plane and my seat number is 5B so nasa gitna yong seat ko, pagdating ko sa tapat ng upaan, I saw a Chinese guy already seating on seat 5C the aisle seat, nakayuko sya. ( I can tell base on the print on his hand bag that he is Chinese, akala ko mababahala ako kasi kakaputok lang ng balita na may NCoV na sa Pilipinas, but instead natuwa ako, I feel like in these time of epidemic they need a friend. Nakamask naman ako, and nakamask sya so I have nothing to worry.”
“I put my bag sa over head bin and pagkatapos nag-excuse ako, para umupo sa tabi nya. Tumingin sa sya akin na parang nahihiya and immediately says sorry. Tumayo sya agad and he bow down as if ang laki ng kasalanan nya and he says sorry again. I said it’s ok with a smile, but I guess he can’t tell kasi nakayuko pa din sya and naka mask kaming dalawa. I seated beside him and when he sat down, he tries to isolate himself. Nakadikit ang paa nya at yong kamay nya nakapatong sa lap nya and nakayuko. Gusto kung sabihin na, it’s ok I don’t judge you or anything pero I don’t know If I interpreted his actions properly so I was hesitant.”
“When the guy on the window seat arrived, he did the same thing he immediately stand up and bow down, says sorry and nakayuko lang. Naawa ako nagusto ko syang yakapin and tell him everything is ok. I stand up as well and give the guy on the window seat a way, but usually hindi ko ginagawa yun inadjust ko lang ang paa ko para makapasok sa inner seat ung katabi ko, but with the Chinese guy’s gesture, napatayo na din ako. Umupo kaming tatlo and the guy on the window seat binaba nya yong arm rest, seems pabagsak putting a barrier between us. Saka ko lang nakita may arm rest pala, ung ibang plane kasi wala. I did not bother na ibaba ung arm rest sa right side ko where the Chinese guy is seating para hindi sya lalong ma-awkward, I let him decide if he wants to pull it down but then nung umupo na sya, umupo syang nakadikit ang mga hita, ang kamay sa lap nya and nakayuko. I wanted sana na magchitchat to make him feel as ease kaso baka may pinagdadaanan yong tao at mali interpretation ko, so nagbuntong hininga ako and pinikit ang mga mata.”
“Sa sobrang antok nakatulog ako and nagising when the pilot announced our arrival, I was stunned cause he is still seating the same way as he does before ako pumikit, it is 1 hour travel, so kung ako nasa position nya mangangalay ako. Sobrang naawa ako sa kanya, di ko namalayan nangilid na yong luha sa mga mata ko. When everyone is departing the plane, nauna syang lumabas and I can see him rushing all the way to the exit, mabilis na naglalakad nakayuko at walang lingon-lingon.”
“Hindi ko alam if I interpreted his actions correctly but if he is a tourist and he is afraid and feels threatened in our country, anong klaseng host tayo? He should be enjoying his stay here. Filipino are not superior over Chinese and also Chinese are not superior to us, but the way this epidemic shows the true color of Filipino, masyadong mataas ang tingin natin sa sarili natin at mapanghusga sa kapwa, lalong lalo na sa mga Chinese. It is wrong, very very wrong.”
As of writing, the post of Sarifa already reached 3,000 shares on social media.
Source: [1]