MANILA, Philippines - Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Monday called on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Singapore to remain friendly despite the recent bashing of Filipinos in a racist blog post that went viral before Google took it down.
"Filipinos in Singapore must obey Singapore laws and go about their work demonstrating their ethical and professional traits, and remaining friendly to everyone in that country of diverse cultures," Baldoz said.
Her comments came after a recent blog post titled 'Filipino infestation in Singapore — 5 point guide to showing displeasure without breaking the law' went viral online, urging Singaporeans to offend Filipinos who "have long overstayed their welcome" in the city state.
The blog has since been taken down and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore appealed to the Singaporean government to take action against the post's author.
"I urge OFWs in Singapore who have read the blog to refrain from any act that will disturb the social equilibrium of their stay in Singapore and harm the good relations between the Philippines and Singapore which are allies and friends in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," Baldoz said.
She added OFWs in Singapore are peace-loving individuals who only went there to work, contributing to the economic growth of both Philippines and Singapore.
"Unlike a decade ago when most OFWs in Singapore are household service workers, 60 percent of Filipinos in Singapore are now professionals and skilled workers in the manufacturing, financial, and services sector," she said.
Baldoz added that "Filipino household service workers have their fair share of contribution to the well-being of Singaporeans, whose wives can go to work because Filipino household service workers take care of their households, bring and fetch their children to and from school and even teach them."
She added that the blog post was written only by an individual and therefore should not be taken against the entire Singaporean population.