Though she describes my letters as 'stimulating', Laura Perez (South China Morning Post, April 2) contradicts herself. Claiming that Filipinos staged 'sporadic revolts' against the colonial powers, she goes on to say there were 'continuous uprisings' around the country.
Those events were indeed sporadic - the only revolt that has been continuous is the one waged by Muslims. And to say those revolts occurred 'in practically all parts' of the Philippines is hyperbole. But that is not surprising since storytelling - dreams and myths that end up as fact - is a favourite Filipino pastime.
And of course the Philippine Consulate has no record of the number of college graduates among domestics working in Hong Kong, since that office is notorious for its inability to provide even the most rudimentary data or assistance. But one only has to see the chattering, undignified, hymn-spouting women hunkered down in Central on Sundays to know that such behaviour is not typical of the highly educated.
Ms Perez's claim that Filipino 'self-esteem does not depend on world opinion' is belied by the fact that Filipinos go wild with joy whenever one of their pop stars or beauty queens achieve success in the West. While constantly declaring their national pride, Filipinos seem to need much morale boosting to salve a deep-seated inferiority complex. This is to be expected in a population which has gained renown for its servants, entertainers and mail-order brides - the first two occupations are honourable enough; the latter denotes a desperate desire to leave the country.
Finally, Ms Perez accuses the Chinese of being unable to tolerate her people's 'quirks'. Is this a euphemism for criminal tendencies? Will Filipinos at home and abroad continue to engage in puerile flag-waving while living in a state of denial? Will they ever grow up and not lag behind their more advanced neighbours in the region? One can only make an educated guess.
JOANNA TUNG Mid-Levels