Thai basher struggles to explain anger, apologizes to Pinoys instead

Prasertsri Kosin never thought the anti-Filipino rant he posted on Facebook three months ago would cause him to lose his post at a business process outsourcing firm in Taguig.

The young Thai surely didn't think he would be handcuffed and detained at the Bureau of Immigration days before his expected deportation.

His troubles started with what he thought was just an emotional release: a litany of derisive comments against Filipinos posted on his social media account.

In his post, name-calling flew thick and fast, labeling Filipinos "pignoys", "stupid creatures", low-class slum slaves" and "useless race in this world."

On Tuesday, he presented himself before the Bureau of Immigration to face the deportation proceedings for "undesirability."

He admitted guilt and asked to be deported voluntarily.  He was handcuffed before being committed to an immigration detention facility.

I visited the guy at the BI Warden's Facility in Bicutan, Taguig, hoping for an on-cam interview. At first, he thumbed down the idea but agreed to talk—no camera, just a face-to-face conversation.

He eventually agreed to an on-cam interview, but only after looking at himself on my cellphone camera.

So what's with all the name-calling? Why us Filipinos?

"It's not my intention to say that. I want to relieve myself ...of anger," Kosin said as he struggled to explain his ire.

But why vent your ire on us, I asked. His lines were at times incomprehensible and added bewilderment rather than understanding.

"Pardon me, I'm not that good in English," Kosin said.

Emotions got the better of him, he said. But what are these emotions he is talking about? He still had no clear reply.

Was it a case of waking up on the wrong side of the bed? I really didn't get it.

There were no tears in his eyes, but he appeared remorseful and sincere in asking for forgiveness from Filipinos and the nation that has become his second home for the past four years.

"I would like to say sorry to all Filipinos that I have hurt. I posted something bad. What I would like to request you guys, I would like you to forgive me," Kosin said.

Forgiveness may not be that difficult for us Filipinos. After all, we have experienced far worse.

What could have driven this man to write what he wrote? Did he have any terrible experience dealing with Filipinos?

Just minor ones, Kosin said. He said he despised what he observed were Filipinos' bad habits such as cutting into lines and calling a person's attention by mere hand gestures.

Still, pet peeves are not enough justification for the anger that he so expressed.

Perhaps, Kosin can explain in his native tongue his anger that made social media teem with expletives.

When his post went viral, he was slapped with a 30-day suspension. But that was just a taste of things to come.

On Sunday, he was served his walking papers for "dishonoring" the call center company he had served for almost half a decade.  

"I got punished. That I think is enough," Kosin said.

He will be deported to Thailand days from now, bringing with him bad memories he himself made and as another example of how social media teaches lessons the hard way. —NB/KG, GMA News