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No, Ms. Jacque Bermejo is not a serial killer, a big time thief, nor a drug lord. She’s just a simple overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Dubai, who happens to post this comment on a Filipino fanpage in Facebook during the time while every Filipinos are fighting for their lives because of typhoon Ondoy:
“buti n lng am hir in dubai!maybe so many sinners bak der!so yeah deserving wat hapend!”
Translation: “I’m glad to be in Dubai. Maybe there’s so many sinners back there (Philippines)! So yeah, they deserved what happened.”
In one quotation that I’ve read, it says something like “It’s not always WHAT you say, but HOW you say it.” Well, apparently in this case it’s really how she have said it.
It’s really terrible to hear this statement from a fellow countryman, while other foreign friends like @Josh Groban had extended their greatest sympathy for our country.
We can truly say that words are really sharper than sword. Penetrates deeper than a bullet, one comment and boom! It’s like squeezing thousands of lemon on to the wounded hearts of every Filipino. If you want to see the impact Jacque Bermejo made, you may open your Facebook account and search for “Jacque Bermejo.” – Or visit her chatroom-like Multiply site. -> (Sorry, I just found out that her Multiply site has already been shut down.)
**The following contents may contain foul words. FYI**
Well, this is a heads up for all of us. We might not know, we may already been Jacque Bermejo in our home, office, or school. Let’s be aware of the words that will be coming out from our mouth, perhaps think about it a million times before letting it out.
Every heart is too precious to break. – Even Jacque Bermejo’s.
Please stop cursing and threatening her..please..it won’t make us any better.
**UPDATE**
Jacque Bermejo’s brother defends with this statement.
The Brother’s Official Statement from thegossiper.typad.com
“ok! it all started sa Friendster last year 2008, my sister told me that her account was hacked by someone mad at her prolly inggit or may galit… she really doesn’t know or what’s the reason why she has been hacked, of corse she’s pissed off because this person keeps messing up her friendster profile. So, hinayaan lang ng sister ko yun, since wala nmn xang alam sa social networking or kung ano man, she’s a working woman na at wala xang panahon magfriendster.
Ngayon naman this issue has been spreading about her posting such harsh words:
“buti n lg am hir in dubai maybe so many sinners bak der!so year deerving wat happend!”
Ang ate ko hindi ganyan kung magenglish, edukada sister ko at nag graduate sa UP. We came from a PROVINCE and part of a political family. Hindi basta basta si ate jack magpopost na magsisira sa family name namin. Dumaan din kami sa hirap, at for your information binagyo din ang lugar namin, TATLONG BESES. Why in the world will my ate as a filipino disgrace our family and citizen, sana po wag muna kayo manghusga.
Hintayin lang po sana ung explaination, for she doesn’t have internet nor load right now, its around 3am-4am at dubai, and I have hard times contacting her myself.
Kung sino ka man gumagamit ng pangalan ng ate ko, mahahannap ka din ng mga bermejo.”
Translation:
ok! it all started in Friendster last year 2008, my sister told me that her account was hacked by someone mad at her probably envied or is angry at her… she really doesn’t know or what’s the reason why she has been hacked, of course she’s pissed off because this person keeps messing up her friendster profile. So, my sister just let it pass, since she’s really not that knowledgeable about social networking, she’s a working woman that really doesn’t have time for friendster.
This time, this issue has been spreading about her posting such harsh words:
“I’m glad to be in Dubai. Maybe there’s so many sinners back there (Philippines)! So yeah, they deserved what happened.”
My sister doesn’t speak English that way, She is literate/educated and a graduate of UP (University of the Philippines). We came from a PROVINCE and part of a political family. My sister Jack won’t do anything to harm or destroy our family’s name. We also went through tough times, and for your information, we also battled typhoons THREE TIMES. Why in the world will my sister, as a filipino, disgrace our family and citizen. Please don’t judge my sister.
Let’s wait for my sister’s explanation, for she doesn’t have enough credit to go online, its around 3am-4am at dubai, and I have hard times contacting her myself.
To that one who’s using my sister’s name, whoever you are..the Bermejo’s will find you.
**UPDATE**
Ms. Jacque Bermejo’s statement:
I am issuing this statement to clear my name in the current controversy in which I allegedly posted a highly insensitive and offensive message on the social networking website, Facebook, in relation to the victims of typhoon Ondoy that recently struck parts of the Philippines.
About two years ago, an anonymous source created these accounts using my identity, posting my personal details, my real pictures captioned roughly and attacking other people. Because of these incidents, I reported such abuses and sent my credentials to the administrators of such sites, particularly Facebook. I have been abused and am still being abused online in social networking websites such as Facebook, Friendster, Multiply etc.
In the early stages, I was advised by close friends to ignore the situation, saying this would simply go away. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Hence, I filed a complaint with the Dubai Police about eight months ago hoping they could help me with my problem. Should anyone wish to check my statement, my case is still under investigation with said authorities.
Time passed and these sites continued to generate malicious, obscene and cruel messages that are widely exposed and relayed to the public under my name.
Yesterday, September 27th 2009, I received phone calls from my close friends regarding very alarming posts in the above mentioned websites that directly offended flood victims as a result of typhoon Ondoy..
These malicious statement(s) which are posted under account names Jacque or Jackie are not of my doing. It is unfortunate that such statements were maliciously attributed to me and I do sympathize and understand the adverse and somehow verbally violent reaction that has been elicited by such insensitive statements or posts. Rest assured, I have taken every legal step that can be done in this regard.
I too, have become a victim as much as those who may have lost their lives and properties to such a devastating natural calamity. This recent controversy has greatly affected my reputation, my family, and my friends. I am devastated and shocked at the extent my character, my personal information and private space have been violated.
I have a deep respect and regard for my country. I am proud to be a Filipino and would never say or do anything to harm the interest of my country or countrymen. I have also had the privilege of participating in civic-oriented activities in Dubai, particularly in trying to help my fellow countrymen seek employment during the height of mass layoffs brought about by the ongoing global financial crisis, as well as those seeking employment for the first time. Making a mockery of any unfortunate incidents befalling any of my fellow Filipinos is simply contrary to my character. I condemn the person or persons behind these malicious acts to impute damage on my integrity and I hope that you can dig deep into your hearts and minds to truly find the truth in all these.
–Source: Facebook & thegossiper.typad.com
With these statements, we cannot really say what is the truth. Every people has their own judgment. Some might say that this is just an alibi, others say that this is plausible. Well, either ways I just think we should stop fueling this fire.
So what if we found out the truth? More cursing? More verbal threats towards Jacque Bermejo? Why not put all those effort to help those people in need instead? Other countries are all looking at us right now. Should we act and let them see how immature we handle these kind of issues?
Well..I’m just thinking out loud. How about you? What do you think?
**UPDATE**
News from Dubai about the issue of Ms. Jacque Bermejo:
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/09/10/01/10353684.html
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{ 13 comments }
It’s plausible her enemies might have squatted on her username/real name. That’s entirely possible. Some notes:
1. She’s from UP. UP graduates don’t know their grammar anymore?
2. She hails from a political family. This concerted campaign to malign her person may have come from their political enemies. Or perhaps the reason is personal.
3. Is this her own statement? Not her lawyer or spokesman? She sounds reasonable to me.
I could be wrong, of course. My take on this is for bloggers not to readily jump to conclusion and be carried away by the unthinking mob out there. It’s very easy to get carried away. After all, it’s fashionable to come readily to the defense of the victims of this calamity. We need to be more careful. Thanks, Jed, for posting the two sides of this issue.
Lastly, this stresses the importance of owning your username in all the social media. You’d never know when some malicious individual will appropriate your username and use this to make short work of your reputation. It’s called squatting, right?
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Giving Good Loving To My Top Follow Friday People =-.
I believe her statement. That is not a rarity these days. May mga taong walang magawa talaga na gusto lang manira. How easily we hand out judgment. Sana nga ma-clear naman ang name niya. This should be read by all those who have read the previous accusations. Thanks for posting this Jed. Cheers.
.-= Jena Isle´s last blog ..My Philosophy in a Couple of Trilogies – Inspirational Book =-.
@LJ: Hi LJ! Thanks for that very insightful thoughts that you have shared.
Well, I think that her statement could really get her out of this mess. It’s well written, and I’m also hopeful, so that the Philippines can now move on to something more productive and worthy of citizens’ attention.
But don’t you think that people seemed over reacted on the issue? Well, yeah it’s very emotional for all of us..but I think how people reacted is quite off already. I don’t know, because I myself when I heard about it I was more saddened than angered. I just pity those people who doesn’t know what are they talking about. And that’s it..no point of cursing, commenting and fueling her harsh comment.
As for us social media enthusiasts, this serves as our heads up. We should be more careful about online identity. It’s something quite impossible to rebuild once it’s destroyed…sadly, even by someone else.
@Jena: Hello to Ms. Gorgeous Jena! ;P Thanks! Yeah, we all are hoping that her name will be cleared up as soon as possible. We may never know what the truth is.. but as the quote says “Never explain yourself. Your enemies won’t believe it and your friends won’t need it.”
We are praying for you Jacque Bermejo.
It’s very interesting that the reactions to “her” remarks were very demeaning and disrespectful. How can you possibly right a wrong with that tactic? Does it serve any useful purpose? It seems to me that most of them are doing the precise thing they’re railing against.
The internet doesn’t forget. If Ms. Bermejo was set up, this is very unfortunate for her. And for those who malign her person via comments, I just hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them later.
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Giving Good Loving To My Top Follow Friday People =-.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/09/10/01/10353684.html
May comment na po from dubai police to verify yung claim ni Ms. Jacque. please see http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/09/10/01/10353684.html. I hope this will put to shame those who easily reacted and instantly jumped into the hate bandwagon, even the guy who purportedly represents Concerned Filipino Citizens (Mr. Domino Cid? who claimed he’s Atenean) and took time to circulate the letter to Ms. Bermejo’s boss reporting about the controversial comment in FB attributing it to Ms. Bermejo before even waiting for verifiable facts to surface.
The reason why a lot of things are getting worst is because of somebody. Nobody can blame anybody for what somebody done a thing to someone. May this case help us to open our minds and be aware of everything before it’s too late. Never let chances slip through your hands. When you know that you have been a victim before, don’t wait an hour, a day, a week, a year before making any actions. It’s not easy to be in this situation when a lot of things are happening and is much in need of more attention right now. Please help our countrymen…and may we be able to survive in this catastrophe.
@berdugas @Dave Blue: Wow! Thanks so much! This is very helpful..hope this could already tone down the mob.
You’re absolutely right Dave, a lot of people have jumped into the bandwagon without investigating or hearing the person out first. Well, we couldn’t really blame some of them because what happened to our city is very emotional. Perhaps we are all victims here. Let’s just pray for the people who “stole” the identity of Ms. Jacque Bermejo. May God enlighten them. 
@Janice Villaroman: You absolutely have a point. Perhaps Ms. Bermejo also commit some form of negligence letting the “so-called” person use her identity at free will. These usually happens to celebrities, but what they do is put something like “theReal” or “ThisIsMe” etc.. Because we can never know what or how can a person destroy our reputation/identity.
Disaster brings out the best in some, the worst in others. See, for example, Pat Robertson – the televangelist who linked Hurricane Katrina and terrorist attacks to abortion: http://mediamatters.org/research/200509130004
“Educated” people can be just as stupid as anyone else, and can use poor grammar in order to ingratiate themselves and manipulate the less educated. It’s BS, and the sad thing is, they know what they’re doing – and they do it very calculatedly.
That said, I tend to believe there’s evidence that this woman’s identity has been stolen. Most people who say things like that, openly, don’t later deny it. They believe it. They think God’s on their side and they have a message to share with the world. Why deny it?
It’s unfortunate, but regardless – you made a good point. All the energy spent on hating anyone would be better spent on helping people who need help. Building, instead of tearing down.
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Scraps & Scribbles, Honest to Goodness! =-.
Sana di naman sya masyadong husgahan ng tao. Kung marketing executive sya sa Dubai malamang di sya ganun magsalita ng Ingles. May mga tao naman talagang gumagamit ng ibang photos ng ibang tao at saka gumagawa ng fake account. Di ko kilala si Jacqueline Bermejo pero tingin ko di naman sya dapat husgahan ng ganun. Filipina pa rin sya.
.-= Snappy Sparrow´s last blog ..Dangling =-.
@LJ: I cannot add anything to what you just said LJ. I feel for Jacque Bermejo if her identity was really stolen. As you have said: The internet doesn’t forget.
@Holly: Thanks so much Holly for your thoughts and for the article that lifted our spirit.
I think educated people must have a better sense of responsibility for people who are not “yet” blessed with education. I hope that instead of manipulating those less educated ones, they could somehow do something to impart some knowledge to them.
I just hope everything will go well for Jacque Bermejo and our country. Everything seems in chaos now, but I know after this…..We will all be a better person.
God Bless you Holly! Hope you’re doing fine.
I’m doing fine, JeD. I hope you’re well!
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Scraps & Scribbles, Honest to Goodness! =-.
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