I WONDER if Manny Pacquiao anticipated such strong backlash regarding his controversial interview, wherein he compared gays and lesbians to animals. If you have not heard or read what he actually said, here is the quote:
“Kasi para sa akin ito lang, common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mas mabuti pa ‘yung hayop. Marunong kumikilala, kung lalaki o lalaki, babae, babae. (For me, it’s common sense. Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female? The animals are better. They know how to distinguish, male or female),” the Philippines’ Pambansang Kamao said.
Being born again Christian, the Pacman humbly apologized but stood by his principles anchored on what the Bible says. His own words:
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nasaktan dahil sa aking pagkumpara ng tao sa hayop. ‘Yun po ay kamalian ko at ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng nasaktan,” Pacquiao said.
“Hindi po nagbabago ang aking desisyon na against po ako sa same-sex marriage at iyan po ang paniniwala ko,” said the fighting congressman. “Ang pagkakamali ko lang po ay ikinumpara ko ang tao sa hayop.”
In the high-tech world we now live in, such controversial statements made by Pacquiao reverberated not only in the Philippines but throughout the world as well, thanks to satellite TV and the social media. Major networks and publications picked up the story, and popular celebrities in the Philippines and around the world, especially in the United States, did not mince words to express their opposition to and disgust with Pacquiao’s statements.
As I wrote last Wednesday in the Asian Journal’s Midweek edition, the loudest and most fiery backlash was from a Filipino American who lives in New Jersey. Aries Dela Cruz spearheaded an online petition for Nike to drop Pacquiao after his statement.
Consequently, Pacquiao was fired by Nike, and many big corporations have distanced themselves from Pacquaio. Now, this kababayan from New Jersey is getting death threats online.
One of the most high-profile transgender models and LGBT advocates in the world, Filipina Geena Rocero, has spoken up against Manny Pacquiao in a Balitang America report by North America Bureau Chief Paul Henson.
Rocero urged not just corporations but the whole LGBT community in the Philippines to rise up against so-called bigoted public personalities.
Rocero told Henson that Pacquaio’s words are not just homophobic but dangerous, citing the high suicide rate among members of the LGBT community, who say they are born this way — as gays and lesbians. Statements made by powerful high profile personalities and politicians like Pacquiao only add to the the isolation and discrimination against gays and lesbians.
But it seems a majority of Filipinos, whether in the Philippines or here in the United States, are more forgiving and even supportive of the Pambansang Kamao, and in my view, this is a reflection of the Pinoys’ loyalty to their idol Pacquiao. More importantly, it is how much they share his views opposing gays and lesbians engaging in sexual relationships and getting married.
In an online poll, The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” asked its viewers: “Were you personally offended by Pacquiao’s comments comparing people in homosexual relationships to animals?”
A big majority of those who voted, 66 percent, said NO. Some said Pacquiao was just expressing his opinion because of his religious convictions, and he has the right to do so because of free speech.
34 percent said YES. They opined that Pacquiao’s comments were hurtful, homophobic and unworthy of someone who is known as “The People’s Champ.”
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
