Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao issues an apology over a show deemed obscene by some observers during a gathering held after a Liberal Party event in the province.
Hurt by social media backlash, Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao apologized on Friday for the lewd performance of scantily clad women during a gathering after a Liberal Party event in the province yesterday.
In an interview over Radyo Inquirer, Agarao apologized if the exhilaration of the guests during the celebration got in the way of their having a better sense of judgement.
Photos that went viral on Thursday showed the performers dancing on top of an audience member during the celebration of Agarao’s 58th birthday and 40 years in government service.
The production number was held just after LP standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II led the oath-taking of about 80 party members. Roxas had left the venue before the show started.
Reports earlier said it was Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino who sent the girls as a gift, but he quickly denied it.
READ: Tolentino gets flak for ‘surprise gift’ at LP event
“Kung napanood niyo po at may medyo kalaswaan, ako’y humihingi ng pasiyensiya sa taumbayan at sa aking mga kababayan. Hindi naman yun intensiyon ng aking kaarawan … Ako po ay patawarin niyo, hindi ko po alam na yan ay magiging bahagi ng aking kaarawan,” Agarao said.
LP member Agarao admitted that mean social media tweets dampened the celebratory mood of his birthday, with some netizens saying the party’s straight reform agenda might as well be “tuwad na daan.”
“Ako po’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan na hindi nagandahan. Ako po mismo di nagandahan dun. Masakit man sa ’kin, kaarawan ko dapat puno ng saya, hanggang ngayon malungkot pa ang aking pamilya. Humihingi ako ng pasiyensiya,” Agarao said.
He vowed that he would no longer use the services of women on future celebratory occasions.
“Sa mga susunod na okasyon, birthday ko man o hindi, hindi na mauulit ‘yan na makakasakit ng damdamin ng mga kababaihan,” Agarao added.
The congressman acknowledged that his vulgar birthday celebration may have an effect on his reelection bid.
“Kung ito’y makakapekto sa akin, bahagi po ’yun sa buhay ng isang pulitiko. Kung itoy’ titingnan na maling kamalian, wala naman akong magagawa. Ang kapangyarihan na ito’y pinahiram nila, pwede rin naman ito mabawi kung hindi maganda ang panunungkulan at gawi ng kanilang congressman,” Agarao said.
Agarao backtracked on his previous statement that as a heterosexual, he found nothing wrong with showcasing skimpily clothed women for entertainment.
READ: Agarao finds ‘nothing wrong’ with lewd dance after LP oath-taking
“Depende ’yan sa appreciation. Katulad ko, lalaking lalaki ako, hindi ako masasagwaan. Diyan nga sa Maynila, mayroon pa ngang sumasayaw sa hawla. Sa probinsya, luluwa pa nga ang mata, walang malisya,” Agarao said in a phone interview with reporters on Thursday.
“Wala naman kasing malisya. Unang una, sa harapan ng maraming tao, nagsayaw sila. Kami dito, iba ang kultura namin. Kung may malisya dun, eh di pati ako damay,” he added.
In the radio interview, Agarao managed to crack a joke that if someone did send him sexy women as a gift, he would rather have them entertain him in a private room.
“Kung mayroong magre-regalo ng ganun, hindi ko naman gagawin ’yun sa birthday ko. Baka sabihin ko, ‘O pare, bigyan niyo na lang ako ng lupe, dun na lang tayo sa Pegasus o Kremlin, isang malaking kwarto dun na lang magsaya,’” Agarao said in jest. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/RC
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