DILG Asec. MARJORIE JALOSJOS during the launching of Cinemarya on Friday, June 8, 2018 at DILG-NAPOLCOM center in Quezon City. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
“Huwag na lang po nating sisihin ‘yung babae dahil sa totoo lang, kinilig siya.”
This was how Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos addressed the issue of President Rodrigo Duterte’s onstage kiss with a married overseas Filipina worker in South Korea, when brought up at the agency’s launch of its first women’s film festival titled “CineMarya 2018.”
READ: Duterte’s meeting with Filipinos in Korea sealed ‘with a kiss’
Jalosjos said she was not defending the President’s act, but she explained it was just a part of entertainment done by some politicians.
“Lahat po tayo may kanya-kanyang opinyon at pagtingin dun sa kissing. Nakakatawa man sa ibang tao, sensitibo man ang ibang nakapanood at nag-react dito eh lahat naman po kayo ay may karapatan sa opinyon. I cannot speak for the President kasi sya naman po ang gumawa nun. Honestly, kung makikita nyo pa ‘yung video parang lahat sila ay natutuwa pa sa kanilang ginawa,” the official said.
“Huwag na lang po nating sisihin ‘yung babae dahil sa totoo lang, kinilig siya. Ang pagkakaiintdi ko po kasi kay Presidente, alam nyo naman for the longest time ang tagal nyang mayor, kasali po talaga ‘yan sa pagpapakilig pag sila po ay nasa entablado lalo na kung napakaraming tao…” she continued.
“I’m not saying na tama ang ginawa ni Pangulo, hindi ko rin naman po sinasabing mali ang inyong opinyon,” she further said.
Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra backed Jalosjos’ statement, saying only Bea Kim could interpret the context of the kiss.
“Ang nakakalungkot it’s the woman that’s now being the subject of ridicule. Ang babae may karapatang mag-isip, may karapatang gawin ang gusto nya, nasa kanya ang konteksto kung tama ba ‘yun at wala tayong karapatang sabihin na hindi tama ang ginawa nya,” Diño-Seguerra said.
For her part, Actress Iza Calzado, CineMarya project ambassador, appealed that politics be taken out of the project because “politics is detrimental to the growth of women.”
“I know that this a DILG-FDCP project, it’s a government-funded project, but can we go outside politics and just focus on the women? Because they’re really the ones that needed the help. So inasmuch as we can, take away the politics from it, because its detrimental to the growth of women, I feel. Just for this project, if we can do that, that would be great,” Calzado said.
“I didn’t sign up for this because I’m supporting a political party or person, but because I’m supporting women,” she further clarified.
But Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas earlier criticized the kiss as “unethical,” “misogynistic,” and shows lack of respect to women.
READ: ‘It’s a once in a lifetime experience,’ says Filipina kissed by Duterte in Seoul
READ: Palace on Duterte kissing an OFW: It’s a playful act accepted in Filipino culture
CineMarya 2018
CineMarya 2018 is festival of short films centering on women issues spearheaded by FDCP and in partnership with DILG and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
CineMarya will grant a seed money of P100,000 to interested participants (Filipino citizens or is a Philippine passport holder, 18-30 years old) to produce a 10 to 20-minute short films with themes on battling violence against women, Marawi women and the city’s rehabilitation, or Magna Carta for Women.
The festival is open to filmmakers who have not yet made a feature film/documentary.
Applicants may submit their short film entries (scripts) to FDCP office (TM Kalaw Ave., Malate, Manila) or through: https://fdcp.ph/cinemarya/submit-your-entry until July 31. /muf