Coronavirus and the Issue of Xenophobia

The risks of the Coronavirus is unlikely with general hygiene and extra precaution. We hope you are all following the procedures to reduce exposure and transmission of this virus.

One of the Lilac Foundation’s core values is unification. We strive to convey the essence of “Bayanihan”; a cooperative endeavour, hand-in-hand, selfless act of mutual cooperation for the public good.

As our core values are stemmed from the Lila community, we would like to bring awareness to an issue that has raised concerns in the Philippines as well as all over the world. As this issue isn’t particularly focused on the Lila community, we believe it is important to educate the community to uplift the quality of life in terms of awareness/education.

Xenophobia/discrimination towards the Chinese has been an ongoing issue since the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Xenophobia is defined as: “Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.” Despite the obvious differences in originating from a different country, they are no different than us. Keeping that in mind, we understand that Bohol is a developing island with a bright future. The burst of tourism has been on a rise in the past couple of years, and the majority of these tourists are from other neighbouring countries like China.

Adamson University President Fr. Marcelo Maimtim on Friday issued a memorandum requiring Chinese students to undergo self-quarantine until February 14 as one of its precautionary measures. He also advised them to postpone all transactions in the school until the said date.

We understand that this judgement is due to the fear of the actual virus. But these actions towards other races are uncalled for in the Filipino culture, as the Filipino community is known for welcoming and embracing others.

“Whether Chinese or Filipino, now is the time for all people and all nations to stand together as one to protect all human life” (The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, 2020).