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The Ugly American (Manila)
Philippine Daily Inquirer ^ | 10 jan 2012 | Ramon Tulfo

Posted on 01/09/2012 9:24:49 PM PST by bushpilot1

Korean-American who holds a top position at the US Embassy shouted invectives at a young Filipino woman whom he nearly bumped with his car last Friday.

Dean I. Chang, the American Embassy’s second secretary, cursed Princess Cordova, 22, after he got out of his Toyota Forerunner car with a Korean-looking woman, apparently his wife.

“You’re a bitch, you’re a bitch!,” Chang was heard shouting at the shocked Cordova who was crossing the driveway of a Korean restaurant on Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsinfo.inquirer.net ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: obamasfault
Chang and his wife were apparently in such a hurry to get into Kaya Restaurant and nearly ran over Cordova, who was also entering the same restaurant with a female friend.

When Cordova told her uncle, Dindo Danao, an advertising executive, about the incident outside with Chang, Danao told her to go to Chang’s table to apologize.

Danao, who was waiting for Cordova inside the restaurant, told his niece she was probably at fault and that’s why the man was angry.

Even if she knew she was not, Cordova nevertheless obeyed Danao and went to Chang to apologize.

She got another mouthful from a man who’s supposed to act like a gentleman since he’s a diplomat.

“Next time I’ll run you over if you get in my way,” Chang shouted at Cordova.

When Danao protested the shabby treatment his niece got from the Korean-American, Chang reportedly challenged him to a fight.

“You wanna square off with me?” Chang said.

Danao called the police.

Chang was arrogant with responding policemen. He wouldn’t show his ID, but gave his name and his position at the US Embassy.

Chang’s identity was confirmed when the head of the responding team, Insp. Rico Ramos, checked with the US Embassy through the numbers Chang gave him.

Ramos told Danao they couldn’t hold Chang as he has diplomatic immunity.

Danao called this columnist who asked to talk to Ramos. I said that Ramos could hold Chang for a while until members of the media came.

Ramos said he couldn’t do that, but didn’t prevent Danao from barricading Chang’s car.

Chang refused to talk to the media and went back to the restaurant with another US Embassy official who came after he phoned for help.

While Chang, his wife and the other American diplomat talked inside the restaurant, I took down the plate and windshield sticker of Chang’s car.

I surmise that based on his car stickers, Chang is a US serviceman.

One sticker reads: Dept of Defense, B6B 3C3, West Point, New York.

Another sticker says: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, 20-6-12, No. 0806947. He has a temporary plate: 097 Diplomatic. * * * This is probably the first time a ranking US diplomat quarreled with a Filipino outside the embassy grounds, and a young woman at that.

At the risk of generalizing, in Korea, home of Chang’s forebears, most men have a very low regard for women.

A joke goes that during the Korean War, an American soldier at a checkpoint noticed a man walking some distance behind his wife.

When the American GI asked the Korean man why he walked far behind his wife, the Korean said: “She step on land mine, me safe.”

* * * Chang is not alone.

The US ambassador, Harry Thomas, is so different from his predecessor, Kristie Kenney.

He once said that foreign tourists came to Manila for sex. These “diplomats” remind us of that 1960s movie “The Ugly American,” based on a novel by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer about Americans in Southeast Asia. I’m not referring to their looks, but their character.

1 posted on 01/09/2012 9:24:50 PM PST by bushpilot1
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To: bushpilot1

Oh, for cryin’ out loud, we almost had some Kung Fu going on there!!! Anyway, you should always treat a Princess with respect;)


2 posted on 01/09/2012 9:30:36 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: bushpilot1
These “diplomats” remind us of that 1960s movie “The Ugly American,” based on a novel by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer about Americans in Southeast Asia. I’m not referring to their looks, but their character.

Just the title, apparently. In the book, the "ugly American" was the hero of his story - the only American the Southeast Asian farmers had ever met who treated them as equals.

3 posted on 01/09/2012 9:31:24 PM PST by Interesting Times (WinterSoldier.com. SwiftVets.com. ToSetTheRecordStraight.com.)
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To: bushpilot1

Obama officials keeping it classy....


4 posted on 01/09/2012 9:45:31 PM PST by vpintheak (Occupy your Brain!)
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To: vpintheak

Probably from Chicago.


5 posted on 01/09/2012 10:02:16 PM PST by Datom
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To: bushpilot1

“The US ambassador, Harry Thomas, is so different from his predecessor, Kristie Kenney.

He once said that foreign tourists came to Manila for sex.”

But, but, the whole world loves Obama, so I’m sure he would appoint only the classiest of left-wingers to represent America, and restore all the respect we lost under that cowboy Bush... /s


6 posted on 01/09/2012 10:25:35 PM PST by free-in-nyc (Freeping from the heart of the occupation)
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To: bushpilot1

The Koreans have been setting up shop in RP for a good number of years and have earned a reputation for rudeness among the locals. Now the Korean-Americans? Uncool.


7 posted on 01/09/2012 11:12:32 PM PST by Avery Iota Kracker (He Hate Me Uns)
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To: bushpilot1

I’ll need to see a picture of Princess Cordova before I can rule in this matter.


8 posted on 01/10/2012 1:20:55 AM PST by catbertz (Easter egg...I wants it.)
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Throwing a tantrum because FR doesn't support Mitt or your Fave RINO?
Aren't you precious
Aren't you Precious.

For those who support FR, click here to show it!
For the perpetually offended and the WHINERS, click here instead.



9 posted on 01/10/2012 3:42:07 AM PST by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: bushpilot1

Filipinas are, as a group, the politest people I’ve ever encountered.

And Korean males often have a “gruffness” about them that’s not particularly appealing.

So even without a picture, I say the young lady is not guilty.


10 posted on 01/10/2012 7:50:03 AM PST by Hawthorn
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