Tito Sotto says he was only trying to be funny as he dropped the term "na-ano lang" during the grilling of Social Work Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. He says this is the street slang term for unmarried Ma'am Judy having two daughters.
There was some snickering and tittering in the room, to my horror. So he was not alone; many other misguided, misogynist humbugs were in the room.
"Na-ano lang" doesn't have the feel or familiarity of kalye-speak (I haven't heard this from Eat Bulaga). It's way too lazy and vague ("ano" substitutes for exactly what word?). Per se, it isn't a very good punchline.
Given the context, it was meant to demean Ma'am Judy and her "not normal" family life. However Sotto puts it, this was a judgmental quip dedicated to all women in the same situation. What's worse is he doesn't know why people don't see it funny.
We've had this before. He's tried to pass off some things he's said or done as if well meaning or in good faith. But Tito Sotto has been too uncareful with words, and correspondingly unrepentant, too many times already. He's even caustically called critics overly sensitive, taking no blame for himself. I will not let this go now.
I take special offense because I was also raised by a mother widowed when I was 13. I see many similarities between her and Ma'am Judy, both models of grace, strength, and fortitude for empowered women. It is because of them, pioneers and leaders unhampered by gender and solo parenthood, that my world now is more equitable and kinder to girls.
There is also malice in Sotto's statement directed at unwed mothers; in English it seems the term is "knocked up". This is affront to me as a woman, because it is as if we are inanimate and do not have a choice. No, Mr. Senator, the men do not just "ano" us. If what happens is without consent, that would be rape, something I believe you should learn more about.
The personal choices and circumstances in the lives of Ma'am Judy, my mother, and other women are improper subjects of jokes and judgmentalism in the (erstwhile) hallowed Senate halls, on TV, or in any other waking realm.
I demand Senator Tito Sotto apologize to Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in the same forum and as public as the manner he insulted her: during the commission hearing, or on live TV. This is not for Ma'am Judy alone, who has been unruffled throughout, but for the many others who deserve an apology.
Plus more - I challenge the senator to broaden the platform and clarify on his afternoon show Eat Bulaga why that statement, "na-ano" is wrong. It would mean much more if Sotto finds a way to correct wrong impressions for many men and women, young and old. Eat Bulaga may look like the last place to go for political correctness, but as Lola Nidora always says, there's always "tamang panahon".
On to the larger picture, let this fire up the movement to #ConfirmJudy. It's such a rare thing to have such a competent, well-qualified, selfless, incorruptible public official. Ma'am Judy and her team are not in DSWD for money or glory, not for herself, not for the politicos. Our outspoken - and as we've seen, well-spoken - Manay is there in office for the people who cannot speak for themselves. Letting her go will be crazy stupid wrong. But oh boy, haven't we always been -- *sigh*.
There was some snickering and tittering in the room, to my horror. So he was not alone; many other misguided, misogynist humbugs were in the room.
"Na-ano lang" doesn't have the feel or familiarity of kalye-speak (I haven't heard this from Eat Bulaga). It's way too lazy and vague ("ano" substitutes for exactly what word?). Per se, it isn't a very good punchline.
Given the context, it was meant to demean Ma'am Judy and her "not normal" family life. However Sotto puts it, this was a judgmental quip dedicated to all women in the same situation. What's worse is he doesn't know why people don't see it funny.
We've had this before. He's tried to pass off some things he's said or done as if well meaning or in good faith. But Tito Sotto has been too uncareful with words, and correspondingly unrepentant, too many times already. He's even caustically called critics overly sensitive, taking no blame for himself. I will not let this go now.
I take special offense because I was also raised by a mother widowed when I was 13. I see many similarities between her and Ma'am Judy, both models of grace, strength, and fortitude for empowered women. It is because of them, pioneers and leaders unhampered by gender and solo parenthood, that my world now is more equitable and kinder to girls.
There is also malice in Sotto's statement directed at unwed mothers; in English it seems the term is "knocked up". This is affront to me as a woman, because it is as if we are inanimate and do not have a choice. No, Mr. Senator, the men do not just "ano" us. If what happens is without consent, that would be rape, something I believe you should learn more about.
The personal choices and circumstances in the lives of Ma'am Judy, my mother, and other women are improper subjects of jokes and judgmentalism in the (erstwhile) hallowed Senate halls, on TV, or in any other waking realm.
I demand Senator Tito Sotto apologize to Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in the same forum and as public as the manner he insulted her: during the commission hearing, or on live TV. This is not for Ma'am Judy alone, who has been unruffled throughout, but for the many others who deserve an apology.
Plus more - I challenge the senator to broaden the platform and clarify on his afternoon show Eat Bulaga why that statement, "na-ano" is wrong. It would mean much more if Sotto finds a way to correct wrong impressions for many men and women, young and old. Eat Bulaga may look like the last place to go for political correctness, but as Lola Nidora always says, there's always "tamang panahon".
On to the larger picture, let this fire up the movement to #ConfirmJudy. It's such a rare thing to have such a competent, well-qualified, selfless, incorruptible public official. Ma'am Judy and her team are not in DSWD for money or glory, not for herself, not for the politicos. Our outspoken - and as we've seen, well-spoken - Manay is there in office for the people who cannot speak for themselves. Letting her go will be crazy stupid wrong. But oh boy, haven't we always been -- *sigh*.