(UPDATE) ousted journalist Malu Fernandez resumes writing

what a life! isn't it time to move on?
your thoughts?
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(UPDATE) Ousted journalist Malu Fernandez resumes writing

Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net
Last updated 11:11am (Mla time) 09/03/2007

A LIFESTYLE writer, who was earlier reported to have been hounded out of her job after she wrote a travel piece many readers found insulting to millions of Filipinos who work abroad, has resumed writing.

Malu Fernandez had earlier said that she quit her job as a columnist at the Manila Standard Today newspaper and People Asia magazine after her article "From Boracay to Greece !" provoked international outrage.

However, an article titled "Unseen evil on your dressing table" with her byline appeared on the newspaper's website and on its Monday issue.

Fernandez's earlier travel piece, which appeared in the June edition of the magazine and later in modified form in the newspaper, recounts her mock horror at finding herself in economy class surrounded by Filipino maids reeking of cheap cologne.

"I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them," she wrote.

The column drew fire from across the universe of online diaries who denounced her for alleged bigotry.

Eight million Filipinos, including maids, seamen, construction workers and professionals, work abroad and sent a record seven billion dollars back to the Philippines in the six months of 2007.

Fernandez at first tried to deflect criticism of her article, saying in a subsequent newspaper column that it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek humor.

"If any of these people actually read anything thicker than a magazine they would find it very funny," she wrote.

"Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabes. One group will never get the culture of the other."

However, Fernandez said she has since become the "target of death threats, hate blogs, and deeply personal insults" and felt the need to apologize and quit.

The Manila Standard Today had earlier confirmed that Fernandez no longer wrote for the paper. It was not immediately clear why she had resumed writing.

Originally posted 12:03 a.m.

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