Our Desk | Discrimination in the community

Lynzy Valles

Here in Macau, I seldom hear nor see residents discriminate each other, may it be against age, physical features or career; but apparently, some non-Chinese residing in the city tend to discriminate among themselves.
We live in a region where there are a substantial number of Mainlanders, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Indonesians.
In general outsiders tend to stereotype members of theses four nationalities as either construction workers or domestic helpers.
Although I am assured that the majority of the latter three nationalities work in the household sector, it is still arrogant for individuals to instantly regard them as ‘maids.’
Surprisingly, at least for the Filipino community, stereotyping and discrimination tend to be largely present between the residents and the non-residents (i.e, Filipino BIR and non-BIR holders).
Some Filipino residents believe they are entitled to obtain jobs with higher wages than their compatriots, who “only” have working permits, and this results in Filipino blue cardholders acquiring an inferiority complex.
A friend of mine used to work at a remittance company as a teller. I believe the firm only accepts a maximum of PHP100,000 per transaction, and customers would be asked to show a valid ID issued by the SAR.
“Can I have your blue card?” she asked, only to find the customer disappointed with how my friend thought she held a working permit.
This issue may not be known to the other three nationalities, but for the Filipino community, there is a shameful mentality that the blue cardholders are inferior to the BIR holders.
When did Macau residents, but still holders of Filipino passports, become superior to the blue cardholders?
The appalling mindset even includes criticizing a Macau ID holder for dating a non-permit holder.
“Ah! He will only marry her for the ID, that’s for sure.”
“She’s so lucky, she’d instantly be a Macau resident and be entitled to all the government’s subsidies.”
How pathetic is that?
Anyway, speaking of stereotyping, I have encountered several people who have asked me whether I was “stay in” or “stay out”, my employer Portuguese or Chinese, whether I take my employer’s kids to school, and if my boss pays for my tickets to the Philippines when I take vacation?
There is nothing offensive in those questions but it saddens me that we’re automatically assumed to belong to the domestic labor force.
I read an article stating that “some Filipinos, fearing that they might be stereotyped in one way or another, might not even want to associate with other Filipinos overseas.”
I agree. Not because I have experienced it, but because of how such stereotyping can affect the way the stereotyped perceive themselves.
An example of discrimination abroad? I went to Beijing to cover a movie premiere. Tons of fans, along with the press, were waiting for the celebrities to walk on the red carpet. While chatting with a young lady, she asked, “Where are you from?” “I’m from the Philippines,” I proudly said. “Woah, and you’re a journalist in Macau?!” she asked in a shocked manner.
I was furious but I knew I had to brush it off.
These examples and experiences may sound silly, but such stereotypes can inhibit victims’ confidence in their own ability to perform professional or non-professional roles.
I believe they should be seen for their potential – what they can do – and not what others think that they should be doing.