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

]]> http://jedchan.com/everybody-hates-jacque-bermejo/feed 28 http://jedchan.com/typhoon-ondoy-videos http://jedchan.com/typhoon-ondoy-videos#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:23:27 +0000 JeD Chan http://jedchan.com/?p=1972 We all have our own Typhoon Ondoy story.

Compiled videos from YouTube, how people witnessed the typhoon. (Will look for more videos)

AFTERMATH

Want to share your videos? Kindly place links on comments section or email me at jedwardchan@gmail.com

Be safe! God Bless!

Yesterday was crazy. Metro Manila was submerged in floods due to Ondoy, a signal number 1 typhoon. Everything was in chaos: heavy rains, floods that grew higher than 10 feet, tremendous traffic, impassable roads, people are on top of their roofs, panics everywhere, evacuation on going, everyone is stressed…

Actress Cristine Reyes was on rooftop of their house during Ondoy.

De La Salle University (DLSU), Taft during Ondoy.

C5 road during Ondoy.

I love how this photo was taken.

Is that a 2008 Honda CRV? Terrible.. we can only see its roof.

According to the weather report, the reason that floods grew as high as this was because the first 6 hours of rain pour that happened yesterday is equivalent to 24 hours pour in a normal rainy day. The amount of water was just too much for the drainage system to bear at short span of time. Everyone was caught off guard, even the government. It seems Ondoy was underestimated, no one expected that a signal number 1 typhoon could result to this kind of devastation.

Where Are You?

Thank God that I was stranded….. at home. As I saw the traffic outside I went back inside the house, never thought that chaos is already transpiring out there. When our basement got flooded by 2 inches, I told myself “o oh..if our basement got flooded, perhaps some houses are already submerged.” Because our house’s elevation is already very high.

Basically I was at home the whole time worried about my family and friends.

I don’t know why, but deep inside I wish that I was also out there experiencing Ondoy. I kind of felt guilty that I’m safe and warmed as I saw everyone else battling the typhoon.

What Have You Done?

I felt really sad that all I can do was pray and connect to the internet to Twitter – to tweet and retweet valuable information. Being hopeful that my tweet will go a long way, I just tweeted the entire afternoon. Tweeted about the rescue hot lines, people who needs help, updates on the flooded location, etc.

I would like to extend the appreciation to these media tweeps who really expressed great concerns to our society: @juliusbabao @tjmanotoc @boysnightout899 They really did their part well. They tweeted valuable infos about Ondoy and you can also send them the names, location, number of the person who needs rescue. They’ll air it for the rescue team to be aware.

I must say that I also truly appreciate Twitter. I know Twitter is a success as it had saved many lives yesterday. I know what I did was not an Action Star or Heroic type of deed, but I know that someway somehow I have also saved some lives..or at least took a person’s anxiety/worry away.

Some Thoughts…

Ondoy was just another storm in our life that made or will make us stronger. Yes, what happened to us yesterday was a disaster. But I think one way or another we have learned or realized something that made us a better person today. I know we have also appreciated something that we never see it’s value before. Stop blaming, stop hating. Nobody wants this to happen (except for one person I guess). I say look into the bright side, because if we don’t, it’s like letting Ondoy do damage in our life TWICE.

Don’t let the disaster pass without leaving something beautiful.

How about you? What’s your Ondoy experience?

**Check out some Typhoon Ondoy Videos.

I was in Las Piñas with my dad and a friend to test drive Great Wall Motor’s automobiles: Hover, Wingle, Cowry, Florid and GWPeri. We were entertained by Mr. Rosauro “Ross” Francisco, son of the late founder of Francisco Motors Corporation (FMC), Anastacio Francisco.

After test driving, we went to Luk Foo in Puregold Supermarket to have lunch. We  were talking about the automotive industry and Francisco Motors. I was quite clueless about what Francisco Motors Corp. is though I knew that they were quite famous not only locally but internationally as well – that was before.

I was quite hesitant to ask question at first because I’m afraid that I might get the “YOU DON’T KNOW WHO FRANCISCO MOTORS IS??” look. But in any case, I just shoot some questions to Mr. Ross:

What do FMC do?

They were building jeepneys, mini-buses, and assembling Isuzu cars which later shifted to Mazda.

How it started?

Mr. Ross said that it all started when his father, (ANFRA) ANastacio FRAncisco, fell from a kalesa (Carriage). He then spent most of his time selling his scenery and landscape paintings in Ermita. But  painting seems to be not a very good business for ANFRA, though he was a very good painter according to Ross. So then ANFRA looked for somewhere else where he could apply his passion for painting. (While on some articles ANFRA was a kalesa painter.)

Jeepneys was built by Sarao Motors, but their works at that time were quite rough such as  uneven welding. In order to cover these flaws, Sarao Motors hired ANFRA to do his paintings on the interiors and exteriors of the jeepneys. ANFRA then later left Sarao Motors and found his own motor company, Francisco Motors Corporation, who then became Sarao’s competition.

It’s sad that Francisco Motors is no longer (or hardly) visible these days, but the legacy that they left will be part of the Filipino’s image and culture forever.

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