Coco Martin to voters: Is it right to curse, show lack of respect?

PANDI, Bulacan—Even actor Coco Martin has expressed disgust over the blatant use of foul language and lack of respect for each other, especially for women, which are now being witnessed openly by children.

“Ilang araw na lang po darating na ang eleksyon. Sa totoo lang po, sa mga oras na ito sobra po akong nalulungkot sa mga nangyayari sa atin, lalong-lalo na po sa Pilipinas. Kasi po ang inaasahan ko sana ngayong darating na eleksyon, lahat tayo magtutulong-tulong, magsasama-sama para sa pagbabago at para sa kabutihan ng ating bansa,” Martin said when he spoke at Senator Grace Poe’s mini-rally here in Barangay (village) Mapulang Lupa on Friday.

READ: ‘Ang Probinsyano’ actor Coco Martin joins Grace Poe sortie

(It’s just a few days before the elections. To tell you honestly, I am saddened by what is happening to us especially to the Philippines. I was expecting that in the upcoming elections, we will help each other and unit for change and welfare of our country.)

“Ang masakit lang po sa nangyayari ngayon, kapag binuksan po natin ang ating social media—ang ating Facebook, ang Instagram—at sa kahit ano pang mga balita sa newspaper at sa TV, bakit ganoon? Bakit tayo-tayo ang mag-aaway-away? Bakit tayo-tayo ang magsisiraan?”

(What’s hurtful with what’s happening now is when we open our social media [accounts]—Facebook, Instagram—and news on newspapers and TV, why is it like that? Why are we quarrelling? Why are we criticizing each other?)

He said he was not at the rally to dictate on the people whom to vote for but to appeal to listen to the news and open up their minds.

READ: Coco martin nangampanya para kay Poe

“Ang mga Pilipino, magagalang, masisipag, tama po ba ako? Pero bakit po ngayon, pansinin po natin bakit tayong mga Pilipino nag-aaway away? Tayong mga Pilipino ang nagbabastusan. Tama po ba yun?” the actor said.

(Filipinos are respectful, hardworking, am I right? But why is it we, Filipinos, are quarrelling? We, Filipinos, are disrespecting each other. Is that right?)

“Itinuro din po sa akin ng aking magulang na huwag na huwag akong magmumura at respetuhin ko ang Diyos. Ganun din po ba kayo? Pero bakit po ngayon ang nangyayari sa tuwing may naririnig tayong hidi maganda, pumapalapak tayo at tuwang- tuwa?”

(My parents taught me not to use foul language and respect God. Were you taught the same? But why is it that when we hear bad words, we applaud and become very happy about it?)

Martin was quick to say though that he was not referring to anyone in particular, saying he was just saying what he thinks is right.

However, Poe’s rival in the presidential race and survey frontrunner, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, has been heavily criticized for cursing publicly and for alleged lack of respect for women.

The actor also repeatedly asked for forgiveness for speaking passionately on the issue, saying he was just afraid of what would happen to the country.

“Ang pinakamasakit sa mga panahon na ito, ang nakikita ko, kung ano ang mali siya ngayon ang nagiging tama. Bakit po ba nagkakaganoon tayo ngayon? ‘Di ba, lalong-lalo na po sa mga magulang, ‘yon po ba ang gagawin nating pagpapalaki sa ating mga anak? Ang maging tama ang pagmumura, ang maging tama ang pagpatay, ang maging tama ang pambabastos sa kapwa? ‘Yon po ba ang gusto ninyong mangyari?”

(The most hurtful is, nowadays, as I can see, what’s wrong becomes what’s right. Why are we becoming like that? To parents, is that how we would raise our children? That using foul language, killing and disrespecting our fellows are right? Is that what you want to happen?)

“Patawarin nyo po ako kung meron man akong naapakan at nasasaktan. Ito po ay dala lang ng aking nararamdaman,” he added.

(Forgive me if I’m stepping on or hurting anyone. I’m just carried away by my emotions.)

Martin then cited the qualifications of a good candidate that he said should lead the country.

A good leader, he said, should know how to run the country, and has a personality to represent the country in international communities, has word of honor and courage to fight corruption in government, among others.

Martin, lead star of ABS-CBN’s primetime show, “Ang Probinsyano,” was just among the showbiz personalities who are campaigning for Poe. RAM