The last time I travelled out-of-the-country was to Malaysia en route Singapore then back to Malaysia, was last January 2011, and I was alone on that trip.
I experience some sort of inconvenience at the immigration from both countries but I thought that was the standard procedure. I was also aware about the number of Filipino arrested for drug trafficking. So I was in a cooperative demeanor each time I’m subjected to that kind of delay. I know I am not a drug trafficker so my conscience is clear. I know I will clear out all random checks they do to me… unless I get caught in a frame-up (which is another story)
At the immigration of both countries I enter and exit, I was always asked to go to the immigration holding room so they can verify my passport. I waited patiently at least not more than 15 minutes. I’m glad the other travelers from other countries I am with patiently waited for me. During those longer checking of my passport and being held at the holding room, I never experienced any frisking or vigorous search of my luggage or was asked to get naked!
When I read this blog post “My Traumatic Experience as an Alleged DRUG TRAFFICKER in Bali Indonesia” I can’t help but feel sad, angry, scared and hurt for these fellow Filipina blogger travelers. One rotten mango doesn’t make all other mangoes rotten. They don’t deserve to be treated that way. How could we allow so many foreigners to come to our country freely, welcome them with open arms and treat them like King and Queens when we, Filipino’s/ Filipina’s are treated like a criminal when we travel abroad.
The pain, humiliation and the trauma this Filipina Blogger Traveler experienced is something she does not deserve and other Filipina travelers for that matter, do not deserve the same kind of treatment.
We should do something, calling the attention of our Department of Foreign Affairs, you should do something. Maybe we should file charges or at least an inquiry/investigation by the United Nations for this kind of harassment and discrimination.
This should not happen again, in Bali, and anywhere else in the world for that matter.
This is a wake-up call.
10 Comments
@Issa yeah it was too much very discriminating and racists and dehumanizing!
@ Benita I do hope our government do something about this discrimination we are getting abroad and that they stand up for us.
How humiliating! Bakit mga dayuhan dito sa atin, akala mo mga Diyos, ang yayabang. I’ve worked with some foreigners and most of them A H*le super arrogant.
Government must do somthing about this. Sana di mauulit, sadyang magagaling yung totoong kriminal kaya di sila mahuli huli…
grabe, sobra naman ang ginawa sa kanila!!! i hope this will not happen again! sana naman our government will do something about this….
I hope so too pax! Ako rin if I will be subjected to this kind of treatment each time I travel abroad, I won’t travel abroad anymore. I’d explore our beautiful country instead.
sobra, im so mad also!!! I love traveling pero if ganito wag nalang. Super traumatic. These bloggers are so brave. Super hanga ako sa strength that they’ve shown. I hope our goveernment sees this and takes action!