Jacque Bermejo - Is She the Devil or the Victim?

Please read updates at the bottom of this post so we can help Jacque.

DISCLAIMER: I know how very mad people are with Jacque Bermejo. I'm actually one of those who were FURIOUS when I read that insensitive post. I am in NO WAY related to her. I don't know ANYONE close to her. And this post is NOT written to DEFEND her but to make people THINK that MAYBE, there's some truth or possibility that someone's really out to ruin her life. PLEASE READ MY WHOLE POST before leaving a NASTY comment.

Jacque Bermejo - she's one of the most famous Filipinos to-date. No, she's not a celebrity. She's not even a hero. So why the hell is she so popular?!?

I actually posted some kind of introduction to this person on my previous blog post about the typhoon Ondoy and its destruction of most parts of Manila, Philippines. But, let me give you more details about this person.

Jacque "allegedly" posted the following on the Facebook group Definitely Filipino last Sunday, when killer typhoon Ondoy flooded the streets of Metro Manila and destroyed and took lives of my countrymen:

It was a VERY insensitive comment from a fellow Filipino. Heck, it's a damn self-righteous, insensitive comment from a HUMAN BEING. This comment angered hundreds of Filipinos (including me) that were members of Definitely Filipino and they started posting screenshots of Jacque's post for everyone to see. This started an ONLINE WAR against Jacque Bermejo.

People started researching about her. There were people who posted her phone numbers, where she works, where she lives in Manila, and her other social networking sites. Her Multiply account, http://starfishbuang.multiply.com, was flooded with curses, mockery and funny posts from thousands and thousands of angry netizens. I even saw a few that weren't Pinoys. That's how mad people were because of her comment.

Some of you might say that people's reactions were EXAGGERATED. That we should focus all our energy instead on helping those who are in need. But, can you really blame them?!? Let them flare. Let them flood her with spam and hate messages. That's what she deserves for that nasty comment. You can't blame these Jacque haters because they're mad at her insensitivity, her self-righteousness. Just because she's living in a different country doesn't mean there's not a bit of her that's Filipino, that she's better than us. Her color, her nose, everything about her, she owes to being a Filipino.

Now, the point of this post. This isn't another Jacque-hate blog post. This is where I actually want to share my "speculations" as to the true identify of this Jacque Bermejo who posted that nasty comment. There were news and rumors that her brother claims that Jacque's Facebook account was hacked and the hacker was the one doing all these damage to her name. Here's a quote from TheGossiper. According to the brother:

ok! it all started sa Friendster last year 2008, my sister told me that her account was hacked by someone mad at her prolly inggit or may galit... she really doesn't know or what's the reason why she has been hacked, of corse she's pissed off because this person keeps messing up her friendster profile. So, hinayaan lang ng sister ko yun, since wala nmn xang alam sa social networking or kung ano man, she's a working woman na at wala xang panahon magfriendster.

Ngayon naman this issue has been spreading about her posting such harsh words:
"buti n lg am hir in dubai maybe so many sinners bak der!so year deerving wat happend!"

Ang ate ko hindi ganyan kung magenglish, edukada sister ko at nag graduate sa UP. We came from a PROVINCE and part of a political family. Hindi basta basta si ate jack magpopost na magsisira sa family name namin. Dumaan din kami sa hirap, at for your information binagyo din ang lugar namin, TATLONG BESES. Why in the world will my ate as a filipino disgrace our family and citizen, sana po wag muna kayo manghusga.

Hintayin lang po sana ung explaination, for she doesn't have internet nor load right now, its around 3am-4am at dubai, and I have hard times contacting her myself.

Kung sino ka man gumagamit ng pangalan ng ate ko, mahahannap ka din ng mga bermejo.

Now, do I believe the brother? NO. But could there even be a slight probability that what he's saying is true? YES.

Initially, I didn't even think that the hacked account thing might be true, that they were just trying to save their ass for that stupid comment. But, after all my anger subsided for a bit, I started to analyze everything.

#1: It's VERY easy to pretend to be someone else on any social networking site.
If you don't believe me, you're too naive. Take for example my partner Mai's sister, Ann. This happened just a few weeks ago. Okay, scratch that. Actually, it's still happening. Her desperate ex-boyfriend couldn't live without her and can't accept the fact that Ann doesn't want him anymore. He hacked her Facebook account (actually, not really hacked 'coz he knows her password 'coz they shared their passwords 'coz they've been together for 4 years already. Y'know, Ann already trusted him.) He started posting nasty status messages using her Facebook account, like "i'm so hot", knowing that Ann's parents, family and friends had no idea that her account was already hacked. When Ann told us about this, I sent an email to Facebook to report this and eventually, her hacked account was deleted.

Did the guy stop? No. He created another Facebook account and started posting photos of them so close to each other. This angered me, Mai and Ann. He also started posting some photos of Ann that shouldn't have been made public. They weren't pornographic in nature but we know that Ann won't let those photos be posted by anyone. I sent the guy messages through that new account and told him how desperate he's looking, that he should get a life and move on. He replied, thankfully, and claimed that he's only doing that 'coz he loves Ann so much. I said thankfully because that reply was actually my proof that he was using Ann's name to ruin her. I told him that he's only hurting Ann with what he's doing. After that dialogue, he deleted the photos from that new account and we thought that we won't be hearing from him anymore.

We were wrong. He created yet another account. This time, though, he took someone else's photo and pretended to be that person. He couldn't seem to control himself and he sent a message to Ann's mom. He was asking her if Ann had duty that day (Ann's a nursing student). He used to that a lot - sending text messages to Ann's mom pretending to be her classmate and he'd tell Mama that Ann actually doesn't have classes that day. He knows that Mama would scold Ann for leaving the house and lying to her. Unfortunately for him, Mai and I were with mama and we saw that message. That's when we realized that he was Ann's ex.

So, why did I even tell that story here? Well, it's because I wanted to show you that THERE ARE people who can do such things like hack an account or pretend to be someone else to ruin their image, their lives. Ann was just lucky enough to have people like me and Mai who did everything we could to teach that guy a lesson. Unfortunately, though, it seems that he never will learn 'coz he still continues to create accounts just to piss us off.

With most people having the convenience of internet access at their own homes these days and the low rental rates at internet cafes, I do not doubt that Jacque Bermejo COULD BE yet another victim of these lamers. All you need is the person's first and last name, a photo of them (if you got more than 10, the better so you'd look more convincing), some info about them (their birthday or age, where they live, etc), a few of their friends' names, and a fake email address. That's it! Very easy, huh?

#2: The Multiply site http://starfishbuang.multiply.com is just too funny.
Unfortunately, as of this writing, Jacque's Multiply page has been cancelled. Someone might have reported it to Multiply or the owner cancelled it. But I found the site too funny for words. Why?

- There was a post there saying something like "starfishes have no brain so maybe that's why I'm like this" in a bad English text-speak version. I don't think anyone in his or her right mind would compare himself/herself to a starfish that has no brain. It's like calling yourself an IDIOT. Okay, SCRATCH THAT. I know there are some very NAIVE people who can actually do that.

- There were photos of Jacque on there and there were captions like "look at me, i'm so beautiful" or something to that effect (damn, I can't find my screenshot). Again, like my first point for #2, it's kinda funny to actually praise yourself, especially your looks, on photos you posted. But, then again, I know a lot of people and I've seen a lot of profiles where the owners actually call themselves "cute", "pretty", and "gorgeous" (among other things) on their photos' captions. LOL

- When I saw Jacque's photos, she doesn't look like she's working as a MAID or a SLAVE to anyone. She seems to be working as a professional in a decent office. According to people's research, she's a Marketing and PR Officer. So, what I'm saying is she might not be as CHEAP as we thought she is. That fact might be another proof to support that she doesn't speak poor, text-speak English. But, then, again, I know some people who work as professionals but still talk and act like they're not. Now, I wonder, when will I get to my point? LOLz

#3: There are people who can do any kind of nasty things to people they hate.
I want to go back to what I said earlier - it's pretty easy to pretend to be someone else and ruin that person's life when you have internet access.

Let's be fair to Jacque for even a minute and think about this possibility - someone hates her SO MUCH that he/she created a Facebook account to maliciously ruin her name. That lamer started to be creative and realized that the Ondoy tragedy was the perfect time for him/her to finish Jacque off. One simple nasty, insensitive comment on an all-Filipino Facebook group can start the fire, knowing where and how to push the Pinoy netizens' buttons. We have history of starting an online war against people who say nasty things about Filipinos and our country, so that surely did the trick. Now, Jacque's life is ruined, and so is her family's.

While checking updates on this whole Jacque-hate thing, I found this on TheGossiper. They claim that this was a post from Jacque Bermejo, telling her side of the story:

I am issuing this statement to clear my name in the current controversy in which I allegedly posted a highly insensitive and offensive message on the social networking website, Facebook, in relation to the victims of typhoon Ondoy that recently struck parts of the Philippines.

About two years ago, an anonymous source created these accounts using my identity, posting my personal details, my real pictures captioned roughly and attacking other people. Because of these incidents, I reported such abuses and sent my credentials to the administrators of such sites, particularly Facebook. I have been abused and am still being abused online in social networking websites such as Facebook, Friendster, Multiply etc.

In the early stages, I was advised by close friends to ignore the situation, saying this would simply go away. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Hence, I filed a complaint with the Dubai Police about eight months ago hoping they could help me with my problem. Should anyone wish to check my statement, my case is still under investigation with said authorities.

Time passed and these sites continued to generate malicious, obscene and cruel messages that are widely exposed and relayed to the public under my name.

Yesterday, September 27th 2009, I received phone calls from my close friends regarding very alarming posts in the above mentioned websites that directly offended flood victims as a result of typhoon Ondoy..

These malicious statement(s) which are posted under account names Jacque or Jackie are not of my doing. It is unfortunate that such statements were maliciously attributed to me and I do sympathize and understand the adverse and somehow verbally violent reaction that has been elicited by such insensitive statements or posts. Rest assured, I have taken every legal step that can be done in this regard.

I too, have become a victim as much as those who may have lost their lives and properties to such a devastating natural calamity. This recent controversy has greatly affected my reputation, my family, and my friends. I am devastated and shocked at the extent my character, my personal information and private space have been violated.

I have a deep respect and regard for my country. I am proud to be a Filipino and would never say or do anything to harm the interest of my country or countrymen. I have also had the privilege of participating in civic-oriented activities in Dubai, particularly in trying to help my fellow countrymen seek employment during the height of mass layoffs brought about by the ongoing global financial crisis, as well as those seeking employment for the first time. Making a mockery of any unfortunate incidents befalling any of my fellow Filipinos is simply contrary to my character. I condemn the person or persons behind these malicious acts to impute damage on my integrity and I hope that you can dig deep into your hearts and minds to truly find the truth in all these.

I actually finished reading that whole block of text just now, AFTER I've started writing this blog post. I've searched everywhere trying to find out if this Jacque Bermejo was already interviewed on TV or video but I found nothing.

Now, the purpose of me writing about her and the whole situation is because I want everyone to stop, think and put yourself in her shoes. What if her account was INDEED hacked or someone else is using her name in an attempt to ruin her life? How would you feel and react if you were Jacque? Me? I'd be terrified and SAD.

I know how much popularity this issue has gotten and I'm still amazed that no TV station has tried to help Jacque if indeed this was true. Or maybe, she was already interviewed and they realized that Jacque can actually do such a thing.

SERIOUSLY. Jacque needs to show herself and have herself interviewed LIVE or on TV so she can tell her side of her story HERSELF. I want to hear her speak in English during the whole interview so she can get people to believe her. I know I won't believe her if she doesn't speak in English during the whole interview. But, then, again, I know some people who are very good when conversing orally in English but when they start writing or composing anything written in English, they fail. But, at least, it'll kinda help in proving that she can't be that same person who posted that comment.

HONESTLY, I believe that it was the real Jacque Bermejo who posted that comment and she's just trying to save her ass NOW. Why? 'Cause I know that people are capable of saying such things even in a horrible time like this. But, I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt. She needs to clear her name if she wants to save herself and her family from all these hatred from Filipinos. In any way she can. No matter how impossible it is to make everyone believe her NOW. I'm not kidding. SHE NEEDS TO DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE for her sake, and her family's.

*sigh* Let's see what's going to happen in the next few days.

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10/01/2009:
Someone posted a comment (check below) with a link to the article below over at GulfNews.com
Fake web posting on floods triggers tsunami of vitriol

First of all, I wrote this blog post because I want people to CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY that Jacque is the victim here. You can't blame people for doubting. All we need is proof. It was just normal for people to react so negatively towards what was posted by the Jacque hacker because there are people who CAN say things like that even in worse situations than the Ondoy tragedy. So, now that we have some proof that she was a victim, I really hope that people would CALM DOWN and think.

I'm sorry to hear that Jacque's life was tremendously affected by this. I'm not sure if people will start believing that she wasn't the one who posted that nasty comment. But I really pray she can get her life back.

And I really hope that loser who started all this will burn in hell. I'm not kidding. Including everyone who posted self-righteous comments about the Ondoy tragedy. God knows who you are.