Former Sarangani District Representative, boxing extraordinaire , and 2016 Senatorial candidate Manny Pacquaio made some particularly risky and ‘demeaning’ statement in a recent interview about his stance on ‘same sex marriage’.
Pacquaio’s remark against the LGBT did not go unnoticed as it received mixed (mainly negative) reactions from Filipino netizens and most especially for people who identify themselves as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
Aiza Seguerra is one of the most notable local celebrities who has seemingly became the face of the LGBT community in his recent union with partner Liza Diño. The popular singer-songwriter who has proudly identified himself as a transgender slammed the Pacquaio’s seemingly demeaning statement with an Instagram post.
“I am so fuckin’ mad I don’t know what to say. You might’ve done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn’t vote for you. And yes, I think you are an ignorant, bigoted hypocrite. You made me lose all respect that I had for you, Mr. Pacquiao”
Aiza also included a post which states, “Ang kailangan ng bansang ito ay mga taong nag-iisip. Utang na loob, kilalanin ninyo ang iboboto ninyo.” (“What this country needs are thinkers. For crying out loud, get to know the people you will be voting for.”)
This statement from Aiza all originated from a short clip from the ‘Bilang Pilipino’ interview that states…
https://www.facebook.com/BilangPilipino/videos/1700629180216618/
“Common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mabuti pa ang hayop, marunong kumilala kung lalaki lalaki, babae babae. O di ba? Ngayon, kung lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae, mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao.” (“It’s common sense, really. Will you see male partner with male animals, or vice versa? Animals are way better as they know how to recognize male from males; female from females. Now, just look at male-to-male or female-to-female relationships, humans are far worse than animals”).
The ‘Bilang Pilipino’ election series by TV5 included interviews with other Senatorial candidates about issues that mattered. Within the 24-hour period that the clip focusing on Pacquiao has been uploaded, it has already became the talk of the town; garnering the ire of notable mebers of the LGBT community. This has opted Pacquiao to release a statement to seemingly save face, but not a retraction.
Pacquiao shared a photo of him with his wife with the caption, “I rather obey the Lord’s command than obeying the desires of the flesh. Im not condemning anyone, but I’m just telling the truth of what the Bible says. The truth from the Bible is what changed me from my old ways. 1 Corinthians 6:9
“[9] Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.”
God Bless everyone i love you all.”.
For the benefit of the majority, there have been various scientific research and studies that documents homosexuality in the animal kingdom, which is contradicts to what Pacquaio claims to be so.
This is not a concrete argument for the LGBT, only to prove a point to Pacquaio that there are animals who have tendencies to partner up with the same gender which renders his point moot.
Depending on one’s deeply held belief system or orientation, this can be interpreted as either brave or foolish. Brave in the sense that one is standing how he interprets his religion and state it what it is even if it costs him the liberal vote.
Foolish as in the age of progressive thinking which aims to include everyone and nobody should be left behind); that we have such seemingly bigoted and discriminatory remark coming from a highly influential person who might very well have a hand to play on the passing (or not passing) of the ‘Same Sex Marriage’ if people vote for him in Senate this election 2016. The big question now is, will you vote for Manny Pacquiao?
