To:
H.E. Minda Calaguian-Cruz
Philippines Ambassadress to Republic of Singapore
20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395.
Dear
Excellency,
Re: Protest Against Embassy of the Philippines Sponsorship of PIDC Independence Day
Celebration
1.
I am writing to you today to register my protest against your Embassy’s
sponsorship and support of PIDC (Pilipino Independence Day Council Singapore)
in organizing a PUBLIC celebration
of your country’s Independence Day.
2.
As you should know, it is diplomatically sensitive to hold PUBLIC
celebration of one’s country’s Independence Day or National Day in foreign
land. PIDC’s past and present intention of organizing a Public Celebration
event for Philippines Independence Day is a blatant breach of such diplomatic
protocols.
3.
On top of that, PIDC has put up insensitive posters and banners in the
past, right from 2011 till now for this public celebration. Singapore is not part of Philippines and I do not understand why Singapore’s
skyline and iconic landmark have been used for propagating Philippines
Independence Day. Moreover, PIDC has been basically rude, insensitive and
displayed inherent aggressive attitude in the following poster and banner:
4.
I believe Singaporeans at large will find extremely offended by the
design of such posters and backdrop which basically depicts a “conquer” of our
land. They actually reminded me of the Japanese occupation era way back in
World War II.
5.
On top of that, as you should know, it is an offence in Singapore to
display your National flag or emblems representing your country in public
places without special consent or permission from our minister. However, as you
and your staffs have attended the previous events organized by PIDC, you should
realize that they have contravened our law on National Emblems (Control of
Display) ACT Chapter 196. Apart from the backdrop for 2011 shown above which has
prominently displayed the Philippines
flag, the following are the proofs of such illegal acts carried out in previous
PIDC events:
6.
Singapore Police has also issued a public statement that PIDC has not
applied for any of the necessary licenses or permits for their planned public
event in celebration of Philippines Independence Day. It is quite puzzling to
us why PIDC has publicized the event without applying for these permits. I
wonder if they have applied for the necessary permits in events held in
previous years!
7.
It is understandable that each country like yours would want to
celebrate your Sovereignty and Independence Day with your people. However, it
should be done as private functions either at your Embassy compound or in hotel
as most countries’ diplomatic missions or embassies have been doing all these
years.
8.
It would be inevitable for such public event aimed at celebrating your
country’s Independence Day to end up contravening our law as it is only human
nature for your people wanting to express their patriotism by displaying the Philippines
flag. However, such act will be considered as a trespassing of our sovereignty
and it would not do good to the friendship established between both countries
and their people.
9.
I would urge Your Excellency to reconsider your sponsorship and support
for PIDC to organize such public event to celebrate Philippines Independence
Day publicly in Singapore.
I would also urge Your Excellency to discourage and dissuade PIDC from
organizing such event now and in future as it is offensive and it has hurt
Singaporeans’ feelings.
10. Last but not least, I also
suspect that You Excellency’s support of PIDC has somewhat emboldened some of
the Filipino businessman in Singapore.
They have also openly displayed the Philippines Flag on their shop’s signage in
public places. (Photo shown a Pinoy shop at Bedok Bus Interchange) Knowingly or
unknowingly, they have committed a seizable offence in Singapore as
stated in our National Emblems (Control of Display) Act Chapter 196. I hope
that Your Excellency’s office could provide proper advisory to these Filipinos
to observe the law of our land.
11. I hope that Your Excellency and
your Embassy would do the right thing and take necessary steps to ensure that the
relationship between Singapore
and Philippines people would
not be marred by insensitive and law breaking acts by the minority of Filipinos
in Singapore.
Best
Regards,
Goh Meng
Seng
Posts
2 comments:
Hi Mr. Goh, it is commendable that you have taken action to voice your opinions and concerns. However, I sincerely believe that it would drive your messages better if this letter was proof-read as there were several errors in it.
Thank you. Please help me to point out the errors and I shall make the necessary editing.
Goh Meng Seng
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