I would never disrespect any man, woman, chick or child out there. We’re all the same. What goes around comes around, and karma kicks us all in the butt in the end of the day.
— American singer-songwriter Angie Stone
LET’S TALK ABOUT this honorable but otherwise addle-brained member of the illustrious House of Representatives who has become a controversial figure in our democratic society due to his unsavory remark in one session of the Lower House of Congress.
I just can’t get over the seemingly uncouth behavior of Quezon City District IV representative Jesus Manuel Angel “Bong” Cabochan Suntay, mentioning his “imaginative” description (and sexual desire) for Australian-Filipino actress-model Anne Curtis-Smith during a House committee deliberation on the impeachment complaints against Vice President ‘Inday’ Sara Duterte-Carpio.
It was really and simply violated several of our laws, such as Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, and nine women, including members of the World March of Women, filed a letter serving as a complaint-affidavit against the’ dishonorable’ lawmaker, who surprisingly appears to have a miniscule knowledge of ethics or perhaps the law.
And actress Meg Imperial pushed back against what she described as Suntay’s misguided perception of the work of actresses and celebrities, emphasizing that the acting profession is not about attracting or arousing men but more on depicting slices of life in the thesilverscreen.
‘[P]rivate desire is one thing (but) saying it out loud in public is another, especially when you are a public servant … women do not dress or present themselves to please men but rather for their own confidence and comfort … A woman dressing confidently is not an invitation for disrespect.’
IT’S OUR JOB!
In a Facebook post, Imperial spoke out: “Actresses are not here to arouse men,” Meg Imperial speaks out.
She added: “Being an actress or celebrity does not mean our job is to arouse men. Our work is for a much wider audience, not just for men.”
Well said from an actress who also epitomizes Filipinas’ unique beauty. She stressed that while personal feelings may be private, expressing such desires publicly—especially by a government official—crosses a line.
We strongly agree that “private desire is one thing (but) saying it out loud in public is another, especially when you are a public servant—“sabi nga, with power comes responsibility, not only in how you serve, but in how you speak,” according to Meg as she asserted that women do not dress or present themselves to please men but rather for their own confidence and comfort.
“Hindi po lahat tungkol sa inyo. A woman dressing confidently is not an invitation for disrespect,” she clarified to urge our government and private leaders and influential figures to use their voices responsibly.
POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION
The controversy expanded further when another controversial figure in Philippine society, lawyer Ferdinand “Ferdie” Topacio, criticized Anne’s sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith for posting bikini photos online, suggesting such images invite attention from men.
To this, Jasmine later responded strongly to Topacio’s deplorable comment, while Anne also released a statement condemning the remarks and said she is exploring possible legal action.
In ending, let me just send this message as a thrown gauntlet to our “dishonorable” representative of Quezon City’s Fourth District: “Sir Bong, may I have the privilege to get your permission to say to you that your wife, Sheila, is f_ckable?!”
I’m sorry about this, I just want our lawmaker the bitter taste of his own misdeed.