Uncalled for,
unfounded

This is in reaction to your column of Dec. 7, 2007 (Feedback by Primo Esleyer).

The issue is “uncalled for or unfounded generalization” and not whether there was corruption or not in the transaction. To imply that I am defending corrupt transaction, covering up corrupt transaction or do not want corruption to be corrected is completely false. I do not know where in my letter did I give an impression that I am defending, covering up, or do not want corruption corrected.

In your column you also stated that it is only from me you heard a defense of these corporations alleged to have bribed and corrupted our officials. Please enlighten me, where in my letter did I state that I am defending corruption or bribery?

Another uncalled for or unfounded generalization, and I quote, “He also said, I find it very insulting and degrading. I am against corruption. Will I praise those who engage in it? Only the guilty should feel insulted and degraded.” Unquote. Since I wrote that many of Tsinoy friends and myself felt insulted and degraded you want your readers to conclude that we, too, are guilty. May I remind my good friend Primo Esleyer of the incident that happened a few months back on the TV show Desperate Housewives. There was also an uncalled for or unfounded generalization that made all of us Filipinos mad, insulted and degraded. Can we now generalize that all of us Filipinos who felt insulted and degraded, especially our doctors or more especially, our Filipino-American doctors practicing in United States , are also GUILTY?

I am one with you in your stand against corruption and bribery. But please do not generalize. Please cite the corporations involved in corruption and bribery and condemn them but please do not generalize. As I said in my first letter as one of your avid readers, and with a wide range of readers your thoughts and opinion influence ours. There is no need for a debate because the issues are different. Honestly, I do not like to write letters because I am not good at it nor enjoy writing one. This will be my last letter to you regarding this issue and will let the public be the judge.

At my age, my aspiration in life is to see a BETTER BACOLOD, BETTER NEGROS OCCIDENTAL and BETTER PHILIPPINES: for my children, future grandchildren and for all of us. The very reason why I accepted the position of the Presidency of Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. hoping that I will be able to contribute in my little way for a BETTER PHILIPPINES.

Respectfully yours,

(Sgdd.) JAMES L. CHUA
President
BFCCCII

The letter

Dear Primo,

I am regular reader of your column and in fact look up to you as one of the respectable columnists with credibility. I know you have a wide range of readers and therefore influence our thoughts and opinion. This is also the reason why I am writing this letter.

May I call your attention to what you wrote last December 1, 2007 and I quote “Corruption in the country is so much. Many of the transactions with government are with corporations from China . And true to what Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said, China did not only invent civilization, it also promoted corruption” Unquote. I am sure you had seen, heard or read Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago apologizing for this very same statement. I am furnishing you a fax copy of her apology to H. E. Ambassador Song Tao of the People's Republic of China

I do not exactly know the reason why you wrote this. Just because many of the corrupt transactions are with corporations from China , you therefore concluded that China promoted corruption. This I find very insulting and degrading. Many of my Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) friends, including myself, felt slighted with this uncalled for or unfounded generalization.

This letter need not be published. What is more important is that the mistake must be corrected to give justice to all Chinese and more especially to Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) who are now an integral part of our citizenry.

Respectfully yours,

(Sgd.) JAMES L. CHUA
President
BFCCCII

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