Filipina scholar 'discriminated' by airline arrives in Brazil

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipina scholar who was reportedly "discriminated" by an airline company in Malaysia has finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for this year's World Youth Day.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said 18-year-old Arjean Marie Belco arrival at the Galeão International Airport of Rio de Janeiro aboard KLM Flight No. KL 705 on July 23.

The DFA said Belco, an international travel scholar of the organization GoodX.org, was provided assistance by the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia.

Belco, a native of Bukidnon’s Talaandig tribe, was reportedly prevented by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from boarding her flight at the Kuala Lumpur airport last July 20. According to GoodX.org, an employee of the airline allegedly discriminated her.

"A KLM employee, Mr. Shawa, and his co-workers informed Arjean of their decision not to process her check-in," GoodX.org said on its official Facebook page.

Related story: Pinay scholar stranded 2 days at Malaysian airport after 'discrimination'

It said that based on Shawa’s assessment, Belco was “not ready to travel” and “that he was doubtful” even if she had a folder with full documentation proving her trip to Brazil.

KLM has denied committing discrimination, saying it "values all of its passengers" and that there are no distinctions between age, gender, race, religion or lifestyle.

"We accept passengers in possession of valid travel documents. It is up to the authorities of the destination country to determine what travel documents are needed and what rules apply to them," KLM explained on Facebook.

Belco was finally allowed to board her flight bound for Amsterdam en route to Rio on July 22 after her Luis Petzhold, co-founder of GoodX.org, managed to rebook her connecting flight to Brazil.

The organization tied up with Cartwheel Foundation to support Belco’s travel scholarship.

GoodX.org said they are sending Belco to the World Youth Day to "broaden her horizons through experiential learning."

The organization said Belco's dream in life is to be a successful professional teacher someday.

"Because I want to rise up my community and family from poverty, not totally in financial problem but in a right way on how to live with courage and to discover the true values of life," Belco said on the organization's website.

Belco was welcomed at the Galeão International Airport airport by her host family and by Philippine officials there.

"We spoke with Arjean upon her arrival and she sounded positive and relieved on the phone. 'Hello, nandito na ako!' she exclaimed as she was being greeted with native Brazilian music at the airport of Galeão. There she also met many World Youth Day volunteers, her new friends, including a fellow Filipina," GoodX.org said in a post on its Facebook page.