Tony Meloto lashes back at academics for calling him out on ‘sexist’ speech

GK founder Antonio Meloto Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto has slammed the University of Hawaii-Center for Philippine Studies (UH-CPS) for releasing a statement online that hit him for his alleged sexist remarks in a speech he gave last month.

In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, a “deeply pained” Meloto said UH-CPS should have written him a reply instead of releasing it on social media.

He said he was shocked after being tagged “sexist” and “elitist” in the UH-CPS statement, acknowledging some people “did not appreciate his humor.”

“It was a shock for me to hear about the negative report from University of Hawaii-Center for Philippine Studies (UH-CPS) 45 days after the event and this is the first time I’ve been called a ‘sexist,’ ‘elitist’ and a person with ‘colonial mentality,’ which definitely I am not. I may have offended some who did not agree with me or appreciated my humor‎ and I can respect that, but the least that UH-CPS could have done was to write me first for the courtesy of a reply, before unleashing it to social media,” Meloto said.

The social entrepreneur denied the allegations by UH-CPS and maintained his speeches were well-received by the audience members.

The UH-CPS in its statement found Meloto’s speech “outrageously sexist and deeply offensive” after the Gawad Kalinga founder remarked that the “greatest asset of the Philippines is our beautiful women” and that Filipinas could attract the “best and brightest” men in the West to invest in the country.

The CPS was also offended on Meloto’s remark which urged Filipinas and their white husbands to produce “cappuccino” children.

“Mr. Meloto went on to share his views on the need for Filipino women and their white husbands to produce what Mr. Meloto (apparently humorously) called ‘cappuccinos,’ and appeared to present such a policy of seduction and reproduction as a solution to the problems of economic development in the Philippines,” the statement read.

Meloto admitted giving such remarks yet said his own daughters had also married foreigners and could not “trivialize and insult” them.

“I spoke candidly about bright foreigners finding the Philippines as the land of opportunity, hub for social entrepreneurs and the most beautiful country in Asia, including our women. I cited two of my daughters who married foreigners, a Brit and a Fil-Am, who were volunteers in GK and left their countries to live in the Philippines.  It would be ridiculous for a father like me to trivialize and insult my daughters, whom I love and respect, to lure foreigners to our country.  I have nothing but the highest respect for our Filipina women who are the heart of our home and community,” he said.

He also denied being an elitist and a man with “colonial mentality.”

Upon drawing flak for his alleged sexist remarks on social media, Meloto said the experience taught him “valuable lessons.”

“Despite this being the first time it happened to me, it has taught me valuable lessons.  Social change will inspire many but also upset others. I am also learning the power of social media and would like to encourage everyone to use this powerful tool to continue to create positive change online and on-ground,” he said. AJH/RC

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