Leftist leaders hope Pia Wurtzbach’s ‘pro-US’ sentiment will change

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach/MISS UNIVERSE FACEBOOK PHOTO

Some leftist activists on Monday reacted to the seemingly “pro-American” answer of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in the first round of the question-and-answer portion of the pageant night on Monday (Philippine time) in Las Vegas, United States.

During the question-and-answer portion, Wurtzbach was asked on her stand on the reestablishment of US military bases in the country.

Citing the shared history of the Philippines and the US, Wurtzbach said that the Philippines is “very welcoming” to the Americans.

“I don’t see any problem with that at all,” she said.

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Representative Emmi de Jesus said that the newly-crowned Miss Universe’s stand “contradicts her concern for humanity.”

“We hope she will have a change of mind and heart on this issue by learning the history of our nation under US colonial rule,” de Jesus said.

READ: Miriam Santiago wants a word with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

The lady solon hopes that that Wurtzbach will lend her voice to call out the supposed abuses of the Americans to Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said that the question given to Wurtzbach was leading.

”It was calculated to elicit a YES, considering that the contestant was under a lot of pressure. Saying NO to US troops, in front of a predominantly American crowd, would harm her chances of winning,” Reyes said.

He said that by going with the “safe” answer, Wurtzbach did not jeopardize her chances of winning.

READ: Senators hail Pia Wurtzbach’s Miss Universe 2015 triumph

Reyes hopes that the beauty queen’s answer isn’t her “final, final” answer, a nod to the response given by Miss Universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj in 2010.

“I hope she would find time in the future to sit down with the victims of abuses by US troops. Hindi naman siguro yun ang (Perhaps that isn’t the ) FINAL, FINAL answer nya,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna party-list lawmaker Teddy Casino Jr. said that Wurtzbach should have acknowledged the problems between US and the Philippines.

“She could have at least acknowledged that there are problems that have to be addressed re. US bases in PH,” Casino said on his Twitter page.

“Pag-uwi ni Pia (When Pia comes home) she should be briefed by Gabriela on the issue of US troops in PH to help her get a better perspective,” he added.

Wurtzbach’s victory was shadowed by a gaffe committed by pageant host Steve Harvey who erroneously crowned Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner.

The 26-year-old Cagayan de Oro beauty is the third Filipina to take home the crown, after a 42-year title drought. CDG