f you don't know who Malu Fernandez is, don't worry, you're not alone. But chances are you'll be hearing that name a lot in the coming weeks. Until very recently, Malu used to be a writer for the Manila Standard and People Asia Magazine. Her writings usually exuded the snooty and vain (valley-girl-inside-a-aging-Pinay-social-climber) characteristic of someone who tries to raise herself above the rest, by putting those around her down.

Unfortunately, for Ms. Fernandez, a July 2007 article she wrote for People Asia Magazine in her typically distasteful style titled: From Boracay to Greece was just a bit too much for OFWs to swallow. In it, Malu Fernandez unleashes unabashed contempt and disdain on the common Filipino.

Describing her flight to Greece on an Emirates airliner she complains: "However, I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them." She then continues: "While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?” Translation: “Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?” I though I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell."

On her return leg, Malu shares this parting thought: "On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."

Well, needless to say those comments galvanized OFWs the world over! The Blogsphere exploded with activity, with Filipinos everywhere calling for Fernandez's firing, or at the very least censure. All that hate mail finally took its toll and Malu Fernandez resigned from her post with both publications.

Like the recently deceased Leona Helmsley who in similar arrogant fashion many years ago once remarked that only "little people" pay taxes, Malu Fernandez  may never be able to shake off the negative image she has created of herself. Just as the name "Leona Helmsley" conjures up for Americans images of an evil, uncaring, slumlord; the name Malu Fernandez might soon also conjure up unflattering images of its own for Filipinos everywhere.