Leave Dato Zainab alone
I was still at the airport yesterday when I received a phone call. Apparently, a Philippine Star columnist, Jarius Bondoc, claimed that the wife of the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dato Zainab, "sullied the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal." Jarius Bondoc claimed that Dato Zainab tweeted and called Rizal an "infidel Malay."
My very first thought was...naw, it couldn't be. It must be just some random, silly joke. Dato Zainab would never say such a thing. Plus, I thought, Jarius Bondoc and the Philippine Star know how to abide by basic and proper etiquette. It is only proper for a columnist to verify facts, lest he appears stupid and naive. It is only proper for a columnist to have proof. Also, doesn't Philippine Star's masthead say "Truth Shall Prevail"?
Unfortunat...