I happened to be in Hong Kong with good friends Jiji Fernandez and Iza Pascual when news broke about the tragic death of Chinese tourists at the Quirino Grandstand. We wanted to take the next plane out. It was the wrong time to be a Pinoy in Chinese territory.

The three of us spoke in Tagalog in hushed tones. How could a holiday turn into a nightmare for the poor Chinese victims? Our vacation mood was dampened. No amount of retail therapy in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok could appease us.

But Chinese superstar Jackie Chan somehow saved the day when he defended our country and appealed for peace between Pinoys and Chinese. I cornered some celebs for their sentiments about the issue.
Jackie?s statement couldn?t have come at a better time than right before National Heroes Day. Just like in his blockbuster movies, Jackie comes to the rescue when everything is falling apart. He?s definitely our kind of hero.

?Miriam Quiambao: ?It was so kind of Jackie Chan to defend the Philippines. It was really an isolated case and I?m glad he understood that.?

?Joey Reyes: ?Jackie Chan was taking a great risk for having the courage to be sensitive, objective and rational. Now that?s a ?Thinking Idol.??

?Rufa Mae Quinto: ?He is giving us reason to admire him more not just onscreen but off screen. Hindi biro ang ginawa niyang pagtanggol sa atin. It?s so unfortunate that such a tragedy happened. On a lighter note, maybe Jackie would not mind giving the local SWAT team a crash course.?

?Roderick Paulate: ?All Jackie Chan was trying to say is that this situation does happen in all parts of the world and not just in the Philippines. And no one would ever want the tragedy to happen to anyone, regardless of nationality. He is not justifying the mistakes in handling the situation, but he?s saying it was tough. Bottom line, he was just trying to pacify furious emotions. But I do understand and sympathize with the pain of the Chinese in Hong Kong, especially the relatives of the victims. It?s so devastating to lose a loved one, much more in a foreign land. It?s hard to accept death, all the more if you believe that something went wrong and there was a mishandling of the situation.?

?Cristine Bersola-Babao: ?Pinoys ought to thank Jackie for not promoting a culture of hate. I just hope he can influence the way his fellow Chinese feel so that after the rage subsides, Pinoys and Chinese will still have a harmonious relationship.?

?Kean Cipriano: ?I think Jackie is just being objective. No more, no less.?

?Uma Khouny: ?I admire his open-mindedness. It?s not only the Chinese that?s mad about the incident but the entire Filipino community. Chan?s statement is very much welcome to ease the tension between the Chinese and Filipino communities.?

Four-in-one
Rarely do we see four of today?s hottest and biggest-selling artists in one big music festival for the price of one. So don?t miss ?Supafest 2010? on Sept. 18 at the Mall of Asia open grounds, featuring Flo Rida, T-Pain, Sean Kingston and Kelly Rowland back-to-back in an R&B, pop and dance concert festival. Fans can avail of 20-percent early-bird promo until Aug. 31. Call 8919999 or 4702222.

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