The Philippines, yet so small, has many problems to face. Starting from poverty as a chronical problem to corrupt government officials and to national calamities affecting millions of Filipino citizens. Still, we can’t even deal with a small problem. It’s really disappointing how slow we act with the issues we confront; we are not even coping with the fast movement of globalization.

This issue has been present for a period of approximately four years already. Yet, we till haven’t settled with a decision given that we have been constantly debating whether or not an apology must be delivered to the republic of Hong Kong. It is quite amusing how the Philippine government is handling the situation. It seems as if they are taking an apology as a political decision, when it is really a moral and humanitarian act. I am utterly disappointed on how President Aquino responded to this issue. His released statement, “the act of one individual...probably mentally unstable at that point in time, should not be construed as the act of the entire country.”  may have been his way of protecting the nation, but this shouldn’t be constructed as accepting the blame. The incident happened in the Philippine soil, regardless of the fact that a mentally unstable individual caused this. The government should have relayed an apology as an act sincerely regretting the circumstance that happened in our land.

I can already foresee how things are going to unfold if we don’t settle this this issue sooner. First, Hong Kong asks for a public apology, we decline. Then they request for indemnity to compensate the families who lost their loved ones, we do not react. Now, Hong Kong plans to cancel our visa-free privilege and impose our hard working Overseas Filipino Workers to pay for visa charges. I’m pretty sure it won’t just end there, knowing for a fact that we are also at feud with one of Hong Kong’s allies, Mainland China.

Although there were many negative feedbacks regarding Mayor Estrada’s plan of a public apology, I would actually like to be one of the first people to commend him for taking this step for the country. Even though he is considered as an incompetent government authority, with regards to his past performances and bad reputation, I am glad that he is actually improving. He took into consideration the 160,000 Overseas Filipino Workers who would have been affected if Hong Kong does amend their immigration rules.

However, I found it demeaning how Estrada perceives the country as a dependent entity to Hong Kong. Yes, they have provided more than enough jobs for Filipinos, but we aren’t the only ones benefiting. I believe it is a mutual cooperation between both parties. Estrada’s statement, “We need them, more than they need us. I am just after the interest and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers,” I don’t think he is giving credit to our Filipino nationals working in that former British colony. My thoughts say, that WE give them the advantage; they gain greater benefits from us.

Maybe it was an unpretentious approach by Estrada, I don’t know. It’s just that he should have left a little more dignity to our country. Nevertheless, I am still in favor of his decision. An apology is a humanitarian gesture, not a political one.

Sincerely,Kaira SyLegal Management MajorR.V.R. College of BusinessDe La Salle University