Persona non grata to the Filipino workers

In International Law, and in diplomatic parlance, the term “persona non grata” refers to any foreign national who, by his actuation and behavior, his words written or oral, has caused embarrassment, discomfort or dishonor to the host country and its officials and citizens. Lately, a Canadian actor who does not know his geography, was declared by Congress as “persona non grata” for putting our country in bad light and for insulting our Customs officials by accusing them, albeit erroneously, of corruption, committed supposedly by illegal exaction of bribery. It turned out that he was in the Denpasar Airport in Bali, Indonesia, a good four-hour flight from Manila. We should slap that stupid actor with a map of Asia.

Earlier this year, the ambassador of a leading world power committed a clear breach of protocol, when he allegedly declared that most of the tourists who come to the Philippines, do so only for sex tourism. He allegedly repeated that same comment in a number of occasions, thereby unduly causing insult and hurt on the part of our women, men and the Filipinos, in general. It was, in effect, saying that when we say “there’s more fun in the Philippines,” we refer to that kind of unsavory fun. It was also, in effect, saying that we do not really have authentic tourism sites in the country to lure tourists, thereby undermining the national goal to promote the Philippines as a preferred tourism destination.

What is disgusting is that the said ambassador was not even reprimanded. Elementary good manners should have told that diplomat that you do not insult your host if you are a transient national sent by your government in order to build good relations with the host country. If he did that in Malaysia or Saudi Arabia, he would be on his way home within 24 hours. But our mendicant fixation must have prevented us from trying to protect our national honor and dignity. Our congressmen and senators have remained mysteriously silent. If covering one’s ears were that contemptuous, then why let that pass?

Albeit that ambassador apologized, rather belatedly, perhaps upon the instruction of his home government, the damage as been inflicted, and what was unfairly done could no longer be undone by a shallow and late and hackneyed apology. This and many related affront upon our country and people should not be tolerated and visitors to our country, whether ordinary mortals or diplomats, should maintain the proper decorum of a transient national.

There are many other nationals coming to our country who are virtual “ persona non grata” to our workers. There is a north Asian country which has sent too many nationals to do business in the Philippines and compete with our retail traders and small and medium-scale businesses. And the reports reaching us indicate that they are not exactly complying with labor standard laws on wages, benefits and employment regulations. They should be told that our government is very strict to Filipino-owned companies. It is high time that we should throw the books at these aliens. If they want to prosper in the Philippines, they should at least respect and follow our rules.

Added to this is the sad spectacle of some foreigners, in collaboration with our own nationals, who use their marriages for convenience as a vehicle to control our tourism industry. Just go around our beach resorts and other tourism-oriented establishments in Cebu, Bohol and other destinations. These foreign nationals acquire lands and buildings in the name of their Filipina wives but they take exclusive control of the revenues, incomes and profits and remit them freely to their home countries through our banking systems. What angers us is that many of these aliens allegedly do not pay their workers correct wages. Others reportedly cheat on their taxes and customs duties. These are blatant indicators of who are “persona non grata.’’

If many of our OFWs are being subjected to all forms of exploitations and unjust practices abroad, we should make sure that our government should not tolerate these shenanigans to be perpetrated right here inside our own territory. We should not hesitate to throw away all undesirable aliens.

Our pride and honor should not be made negotiable. No country, no foreign national, no matter how powerful, should have the privilege of insulting the sovereign Filipino people.