A Filipina recounted her experience of discrimination in Italy amid the coronavirus scare.
In a Facebook post of Linda Reyes Gregorio, she narrated how she lost her calm when she was discriminated along with her companions by fellow passengers while riding a train in Rome.
“Hindi pa po kami nakakasakay ng Metro halos ayaw na sumabay sa amin ng mga tao,” she said.
According to Gregorio, their entrance created panic on passengers inside the train. The passengers quickly vacated their seats and moved away from them.
“Tapos nang makapasok na kami, Nakita pa lang kami ng mga Italian, lahat sila nag-panic at nagtakbuhan,” she added. “Hindi ako nakatiis na hindi sumagot sa kanila na huwag kayong matakot, Filipino kami.”
She added that she even dared to show her ID to prove that she’s not Chinese.
Gregorio lamented the situation of Chinese in Italy as they experience racism and discrimination from citizens who are
“Nakakalungkot isipin na kaming mga Filipino, parang daig pa ng may mga ketong … pinandidirihan nila kami at iniiwasan,” she said.
She hoped that a cure would be invented so that Chinese and other Asian nationalities will not experience discrimination again.
“Sana maayos na lahat o makagawa na sila ng gamot sa coronavirus,” she concluded.