Stories on racism against Filipinos

[peachy2230]

hello guys,
Mas masakit kung kapwa mo pilipino ang magdiscriminate sayo..sila pa hihila sayo pababa...sa work place man dito sa loob ng bansa o sa labas....." insecurities could kill another person"

Nsabukan ko din nag work sa isang Korean academy dito sa pinas. Naku ang mga head mas kinakampihan pa ang mga koreano. Inaapi api na nga sa pasahod ang mga pilipino teachers...haaay na stresssed ako nuon..

Lastly, it is true Koreans look down to us filipinos as well as other asians..but well, when we immigrate to other countries most specially sa Canada, Filipino ang unang hinahire..sorry na lang sila..kulang sila sa galing na mang English at abilidad sa trabaho..apihin man tayo, surviving parin kahita papano..on the top!!!.

[luckypal]

^ peachy2230, that's good to hear i hope other countries and races also start appreciating us as their equals. no more no less.

[Romina]

just the other night, a patient yelled at me cause im asian. i was doing my rounds, then when she saw me, she was like "wth are you? i dont want you here, get out of my face. you asian b*****!" i know she's just upset cause of what happened to her ( i wont go into details). she's a redneck so i understand her being sucha racist. her husband apologized naman.

[mi_kayla]

eto, involving a filipina.



Worker sues McDonald's over 'forced' abortion
SEAN COWAN, The West Australian July 3, 2010, 2:45 am


A Perth franchise of global fast food giant McDonald's has been accused of forcing an immigrant worker to have an abortion before eventually sacking her because she refused to abort a second pregnancy.

Rechilda Moll-Sequitin, a Filipina who was brought to WA on a 457 visa to work at the chain's Mindarie restaurant, is suing one of WA's biggest McDonald's franchisees for racial and sexual discrimination.

She has asked the Federal Magistrate's Court to award her $140,000 in compensation.

In court documents obtained by The West Australian, Ms Moll-Sequitin claims she arrived in Australia in June 2008 and was appointed assistant manager by franchisee Neil Platts, whose company also held the Currambine and Joondalup store franchises.

Three months later, she became pregnant to her Australian fiance Guiller Sequitin. She claims Mr Platts told her she would lose her job if she did not have an abortion, so she terminated the pregnancy in September 2008.

Ms Moll-Sequitin claims she told Mr Platts in February last year she had again become pregnant. On March 16, she was called to a meeting in Mr Platt's office.

"He told me that he would have to be blunt and tell me that if I go on with the pregnancy, he'd give me a letter of redundancy and I'd go back to the Philippines right away, pregnant, jobless and without Guil," Ms Moll-Sequitin said in her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission, a copy of which has been lodged with the Federal Magistrate's Court.

Ms Moll-Sequitin, who turns 31 tomorrow, claims she refused to have another abortion and was made redundant three days later. She married Mr Sequitin and gave birth to Abigail Isabella late last year.

Mr Platt's company Kandoo Investments has lodged documents with the court in which it denies the threats ever took place. Yesterday, Ms Moll-Sequitin's lawyer, Simon Millman from Slater & Gordon , told Federal Magistrate Toni Lucev his client had recorded the second series of threats.

Kandoo Investments' lawyer Ian Curlewis told the court the allegations against Mr Platts were horrific. He said the tape recording should not be entered into evidence because it had been recorded without the knowledge of the other party. He also said he wanted access to Ms Moll-Sequitin's medical records to determine whether she gave doctors any other reason for having the abortion in 2008.

The company also claims in court documents that Ms Moll-Sequitin was made redundant because it had sold the Mindarie franchise and the sale "did not involve a transfer of the two employees . . . on section 457 visas". She had been paid more than $4200 after her redundancy, it said.

Outside court, Ms Moll-Sequitin said: "I'm actually looking forward to my day in court where I can tell my story. But I was hurt with what happened and I'm happy that it's been listed (for trial) in September."

Mr Platts said he would continue to fight the allegations and denied having threatened Ms Moll-Sequitin about either of her pregnancies or her ethnic origin.
McDonald's did not return calls from _The West Australian _. Mr Lucev said in court the case been mediated, but the parties had not been able to settle. He will hear arguments about the admissibility of the tape and access to the hospital records on Thursday. In 2008, Kandoo Investments was fined $13,700 for employing 12 children under the age of 15 outside legal hours and employing 19 children without the written consent of their parents.

[Vera]

Re: the Filipina in Australia who lodged a case, she should have understood that she went to Australia for work and not to get pregnant. If I were the employer, I would also make sure that my newly-hired employee understands what she's there for and make sure she finishes her contract without any impediments along the way. I don't think this was coercion on the part of the chain; Mr Platts mainly told her the truth -- that she'd lose her job if she were pregnant -- and most employers would rather not deal with pregnant employees, especially a giant chain like McDonald's (I actually haven't encountered a pregnant employee at McDonald's). At that time, Ms Moll-Sequitin could have chosen to carry on with the pregnancy and leave the job, but she aborted the baby anyway. Worse, she didn't learn her lesson because five months later, she got pregnant again, FULLY KNOWING that her employer can sack her anytime.

I don't think this is a case of discrimination against a Filipino. Ms Moll obtained her evidence (recorded conversations) illegally (without the consent of Mr Platts) and therefore inadmissible under the law.  I don't think there was coercion here because there was no force employed and Ms Molls had a choice and could have chosen not to be pregnant until the end of her contract. My goodness, it hasn't only been a year and she got pregnant TWICE!

I'm just thinking logically here -- I have nothing against Ms Moll and I don't think McDonald's had anything against her being Filipina; they have something   against her for violation of company policy and, perhaps, her contractual obligation as an employee.

[mi_kayla]

actually Mcdonalds' rep there in terms of employee treatment is not 100% pure. not as clean as its name in other places in the world. but...we'll never know the facts of the case as we're not privy to it. but remember, with all the cases coming in, the courts will not allow its time to be wasted. so, in fairness to our fellow filipino, the facts of her case may have some level of credibility because her case was admitted.

it's up to the courts to interpret the law. God speed to our kababayan.

[mi_kayla]

Update: Mrs. Moll-Sequitin got $140,000 as compensation.

[twentysomething gal]

^ ^

eto, involving a filipina.

Worker sues McDonald's over 'forced' abortion
SEAN COWAN, The West Australian July 3, 2010, 2:45 am

Interesting article. Can't believe a company as big as McDonald's in a highly civilized country is dealing with an issue like this, especially when in a state like California this is specifically prohibited by Law.

Iba iba talaga ang level ng discrimination sa mundo. Lahat naman tayo galing sa alikabok at babalik sa alikabok diba! 

[piggyxoxo]

Re: the Filipina in Australia who lodged a case, she should have understood that she went to Australia for work and not to get pregnant. If I were the employer, I would also make sure that my newly-hired employee understands what she's there for and make sure she finishes her contract without any impediments along the way. I don't think this was coercion on the part of the chain; Mr Platts mainly told her the truth -- that she'd lose her job if she were pregnant -- and most employers would rather not deal with pregnant employees, especially a giant chain like McDonald's (I actually haven't encountered a pregnant employee at McDonald's). At that time, Ms Moll-Sequitin could have chosen to carry on with the pregnancy and leave the job, but she aborted the baby anyway. Worse, she didn't learn her lesson because five months later, she got pregnant again, FULLY KNOWING that her employer can sack her anytime.

I don't think this is a case of discrimination against a Filipino. Ms Moll obtained her evidence (recorded conversations) illegally (without the consent of Mr Platts) and therefore inadmissible under the law.  I don't think there was coercion here because there was no force employed and Ms Molls had a choice and could have chosen not to be pregnant until the end of her contract. My goodness, it hasn't only been a year and she got pregnant TWICE!

I'm just thinking logically here -- I have nothing against Ms Moll and I don't think McDonald's had anything against her being Filipina; they have something   against her for violation of company policy and, perhaps, her contractual obligation as an employee.

I see where you're coming from but at the end of the day what they did to her was wrong. I worked in recruiting and you can talk to your employees about expectations until you're blue in the face but lets face it, people have lives, things happen. And it is sad how a lot of foreign workers are not covered by employment rights that permanent residents have. Unfortunately, foreign workers are being mistreated (overtime without pay, being forced to work longer hours than necessary, etc.) everyday.

I am glad that she was rewarded the money. Women should not be punished for deciding to have children. If I were to get pregnant tomorrow, by law I am allowed to go on maternity leave and have the job waiting for me a year later. That woman deserved the same right.

[mi_kayla]

well said sis. this is the answer that i've been waiting for here in GT.

[Vera]

^The thread's title is racism against Filipinos and the McDonald's case does not involve the race issue. Bottom line, I don't fully side with the complainant in this case and this has nothing to do with her being pregnant or wanting to have a child. I am a mother myself but as an employer who have come across many irresponsible contractors and employees, I believe that both employers and employees must honor the employment contract and the employer has every right to terminate the employee if she doesn't fulfill her part of the obligation. At the same time, the employee has the right to leave if she is no longer happy with the company. Just my two cents.

[Vera]

By the way, upon further research, it's not true that Moll-Sequitin was awarded by the court. She settled with McDonalds for an undisclosed sum. Now that tells me something... from the second pregnancy, to her recorded conversations (that she planned to use as evidence before she even filed the case), to monetary claims... does that sound familiar? She went to Australia on 457 visa (sponsored by the McDo franchise) to work and she exploited that visa by getting pregnant (yes, despite the outstanding contract).

On the other hand, I don't understand why McDonalds has to hire overseas workers just to flip burgers and deep-fry chickens. Aren't there enough OZ teenagers for this type of job?

Related story here: http://www.tucp.org.ph/news/index.php/2010/07/pinay-worker-in-perth-settles-suit-vs-mcdonalds-over-‘forced-abortion’/

[mi_kayla]

I never said she was awarded. I said she got the compensation. nasa kanya na yun kung gusto niya ng nerve wracking legal case that would drag on for years.

Ganun DITO sa australia. if your A*S is on the line. you will settle right away. Lalo na if you know you will lose.

hirap kasi ng iba, hindi pa napupunta sa australia, mas marunong pa sila, mas marunong pa sila sa taga dun.

when it comes to employment, its different. maraming hindi ka nais nais na practices. we've discussed these similar matters in our Law Class and most of the time, our teacher and unit controller would say, "you have a case." I don't blame him. he's one of the lawyers hired by the WA gov't to draft their labor laws.

if you've been here, you'll know that macdonalds is no Angel. and discrimination does exist. human rights commission will not back her up kung ganun lang.

On the other hand, I don't understand why McDonalds has to hire overseas workers just to flip burgers and deep-fry chickens. Aren't there enough OZ teenagers for this type of job?

AYUN na nga.

if you've lived here, you'll know

come here and see for your self.

enough said. if you want to bash or stereotype our kababayan with your 2 cents. go ahead.

totoo nga naman. mas malupit nga talaga pag kapwa mo pinoy.

the thread is yours.

[Vera]

@mi_kyla: Uh, excuse me, I don't bash our fellow kababayans at all and I will never do that! This is a public thread where we can openly express our opinions. Kaya nga tinawag na opinion eh coz some people might disagree with it but to say that I bash a Filipina, that's hitting below the belt. You may not agree with me pero bakit napipikon ka? And I don't pretend to KNOW the law more than anyone who lives there. Here in the US, we assert our rights and LOOK AT BOTH SIDES of the story. Hindi porke't employee ka, ikaw na ang tama. People, especially in the U.S., lodge all sort of cases, most of them bordering on being ridiculous. You really have to consider all arguments before you push through with a case.

I read the article from start to finish and I could say that Mrs Moll had her faults as well that's why I don't fully side with her. 

And read my previous posts -- did I even bash her? The truth is, a lot of overseas contract workers go to foreign countries and exploit their visa, even tourists here in the US who chose to stay as illegal aliens are not an exception. I even said, I was just thinking logically here kasi alam ni Mrs Moll na bago sya pumunta ng Australia, alam na nya ang patakaran nga employer nya so kung may ginawa man sya na contrary sa policies ng employer nya, she had no one else to blame but herself. Now the "forced" abortion issue wasn't proven kasi nga hindi natuloy ang kaso but people tend to side with employees lalo na pag giant companies ang kalaban, like McDonalds, kasi feeling nila may pang-aapi na nangyari.

If you had been an employer yourself, which I highly doubt, you would know how it feels to spend a lot just to hire the right people... and it's extremley frustrating if it turns out they're not fit for the job. In our company in San Francisco, we hired 20 people (some of them Filipinos) and we ended up firing half of them after 6 months because they did not fulfill their contractual obligations. Luckily, malawak ang pang-uunawa nila and they understood where we were coming from -- we even ended up in good terms.

Ako malupit sa kapwa pinoy? And your basis is this post? Wow, how can you be so shallow?

P.S. Next time, read my posts line by line before you jump into conclusion.

[piggyxoxo]

I am curious to see how this case will work out.

That's life, I guess. You make choices and do the best that you can with what you have.

[La Vida Dulce]

Based on what I read about the McDonald's/Moll-Sequitin kerfuffle, I do not think race is an issue at all. I think it is more of an issue of unfair employers taking advantage of their employees, which also obviously happens among employers and employees of the same race, heck it even happens to Filipinos with Filipino employers. I find the employer's policies and conditions absolutely appalling, and he deserves a kick in the bum. Good riddance that he had to pay up (or settle). However I think it's going too far to call him racist against Filipinos. Ang hirap sa iba sa atin, masyadong balat-sibuyas when it comes to these sorts of things. Not because a Filipina is involved in this kind of situation does not mean the aggravating party is racist. Ah, it's amazing how the Filipino's 'victim complex' is evident sometimes to the point that it borders on ridiculous and irrational.

Whoops I might be labeled as a Filipino-basher too! Oh my!

[Shanejewel]

[/quote]

eto, involving a filipina.



Worker sues McDonald's over 'forced' abortion
SEAN COWAN, The West Australian July 3, 2010, 2:45 am


A Perth franchise of global fast food giant McDonald's has been accused of forcing an immigrant worker to have an abortion before eventually sacking her because she refused to abort a second pregnancy.

Rechilda Moll-Sequitin, a Filipina who was brought to WA on a 457 visa to work at the chain's Mindarie restaurant, is suing one of WA's biggest McDonald's franchisees for racial and sexual discrimination.

She has asked the Federal Magistrate's Court to award her $140,000 in compensation.

In court documents obtained by The West Australian, Ms Moll-Sequitin claims she arrived in Australia in June 2008 and was appointed assistant manager by franchisee Neil Platts, whose company also held the Currambine and Joondalup store franchises.

Three months later, she became pregnant to her Australian fiance Guiller Sequitin. She claims Mr Platts told her she would lose her job if she did not have an abortion, so she terminated the pregnancy in September 2008.

Ms Moll-Sequitin claims she told Mr Platts in February last year she had again become pregnant. On March 16, she was called to a meeting in Mr Platt's office.

"He told me that he would have to be blunt and tell me that if I go on with the pregnancy, he'd give me a letter of redundancy and I'd go back to the Philippines right away, pregnant, jobless and without Guil," Ms Moll-Sequitin said in her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission, a copy of which has been lodged with the Federal Magistrate's Court.

Ms Moll-Sequitin, who turns 31 tomorrow, claims she refused to have another abortion and was made redundant three days later. She married Mr Sequitin and gave birth to Abigail Isabella late last year.

Mr Platt's company Kandoo Investments has lodged documents with the court in which it denies the threats ever took place. Yesterday, Ms Moll-Sequitin's lawyer, Simon Millman from Slater & Gordon , told Federal Magistrate Toni Lucev his client had recorded the second series of threats.

Kandoo Investments' lawyer Ian Curlewis told the court the allegations against Mr Platts were horrific. He said the tape recording should not be entered into evidence because it had been recorded without the knowledge of the other party. He also said he wanted access to Ms Moll-Sequitin's medical records to determine whether she gave doctors any other reason for having the abortion in 2008.

The company also claims in court documents that Ms Moll-Sequitin was made redundant because it had sold the Mindarie franchise and the sale "did not involve a transfer of the two employees . . . on section 457 visas". She had been paid more than $4200 after her redundancy, it said.

Outside court, Ms Moll-Sequitin said: "I'm actually looking forward to my day in court where I can tell my story. But I was hurt with what happened and I'm happy that it's been listed (for trial) in September."

Mr Platts said he would continue to fight the allegations and denied having threatened Ms Moll-Sequitin about either of her pregnancies or her ethnic origin.
McDonald's did not return calls from _The West Australian _. Mr Lucev said in court the case been mediated, but the parties had not been able to settle. He will hear arguments about the admissibility of the tape and access to the hospital records on Thursday. In 2008, Kandoo Investments was fined $13,700 for employing 12 children under the age of 15 outside legal hours and employing 19 children without the written consent of their parents.

Ewan ko pero kami ng mga friends ko when we heard about this news, nahiya kami sa ginawa nya...  i dont mean to argue with anyone here.  I just want to share what we felt and our pov.  We just cant imagine that within three months she got pregnant.  And I believe that the ultimate decision of getting the child aborted is hers, it could be an option given to her.  But she has the final say kasi baby nya un...  pero she just didnt want to go back to Phil.  In fact, under probationary period pa sya nyan kasi 3 months pa lang e.. And nakalagay din sa immi na kung ang salary level ng 457 is the mimumum salary published sa gazette, hindi sya lalo pwedeng mabuntis kasi she cannot meet the annual minimum salary pag nag-maternity leave sya... either case, uuwi talaga sya.. 

Tapos nagpabuntis na naman sya....   ok lang sana kung right after na nawalan sya ng trabaho e nagfile sya ng kaso na kesyo pinapa-abort sa kanya...  kaso inintay pa nilang one year after manganak bago naghabol sa employer...  In the first place, hindi sya ipapatawag sa meeting kung fit pa sya sa trabaho... looks like sa workload ng AM sa Mcdonalds, di na sya ganu makapag-function.   May mga racist, but we believe this case is not... its more on para sa pera...   Sana habang buntis pa sya nagfile na agad sya ng kaso... baka dun maawa pa kame.. kaso pinagisipan... may parecord2 pa.

[Vera]

Shanejewel - I KNOW!!! Ilang beses ko binasa tong article na to to make sure it's not a case against a Filipina per se. In fact, fault nya yung nabuntis 2x! She was there to work and not to get pregnant. Anyway, good thing you hit the nail on the head.

[NC]

O please, here in the US, Asians are considered the highest income earner next only to white americans, talo natin ang mga non american whites (Europeans, etc), hispanics and black americans.  One more thing, ang average American ang tatamad and ang bobob*, very uncultured and unsophisticated.  I find it amusing when they try to put us down.

Correction, Asians are the "highest earning group(we are also called model minority)" in the US followed by whites and then other races.

[Caramel]

I'm a teacher working in Virginia. My classmate in grad school, who is also a teacher, asked the class what she can do to help her Filipino student speak Tagalog again (because apparently the child refused to speak in the native tongue). I was about to offer a suggestion when she cut me short and told me that the mother is a mail-order bride. That caught me off guard. White and ignorant.