On Sunday, February 27, controversial filmmaker Darryl Yap ridiculed presidential aspirant and incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo’s removal of heels as a basis that she would not be fit to be the next Philippine President.
Wearing a pink outfit and high heels, she attended the CNN Presidential forum and other presidential candidates.
In his Facebook post, Yap said that Robredo should have known better not to wear high heels during a debate.
“Alam ng true leader kung gaano tumatagal ang mga debate; na sasakit ang kanyang binti at paa kung maghi-heels siya,” wrote the filmmaker.
It was also of “poor planning” and “wrong decision” as to why he thinks the VP is unsuitable for leading the country.
“Showmanship is not leadership,” pointed Yap.
His post, however, did not go unnoticed.
Staff Officer for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Raffy Magno quipped that Robredo’s heels were not as tall as “hills.”
https://twitter.com/raffymagno/status/1498187597365256194?s=20&t=3tE1cATvNkjQiS-uZXkmsA
A priest even pointed out that removing a part of an outfit does not equate to stealing money for a shoe collection. He added that Robredo only got tired and did not cower.
It can be recalled that during the CNN Presidential Debate, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was once again a no-show.
https://twitter.com/tatabryan/status/1498160700195487744?s=20&t=3tE1cATvNkjQiS-uZXkmsA
Even Kapamilya personality James Banaag out that it was a “normal thing” for women, especially during long events, and was baffled that it became an issue in the first place.
bat issue para sa iba yung pagpa-paa ni vp @lenirobredo after the #CNNPHPresidentialDebate? ginagawa naman talaga yun ng mga babae sa mga event diba haha aminin niyo pag ang tagal niyong naka-heels, hinuhubad niyo din naman talaga pag di na kaya! 😁
— James Banaag (@dearscarjames) February 28, 2022
A netizen also emphasized that women “can” be barefooted since it is not a crime.
coz we can! what's wrong being barefoot? hindi sya crime so what's their problem? mga mema! https://t.co/kamvDsQPD3
— rachel palines ⁰₁³₉²₉⁷₆ (@babyfatty22) February 28, 2022
A Twitter personality shared that it was a common thing for women as he wrote, “Ah kaya pala dati sa office, kung nakapagdala kayo ng tsinelas kasi ‘show off’ lang yung heels nyo!”
‘Show off’ daw that VP Leni Robredo walked barefoot carrying her heels.
Ah kaya pala dati sa office, kung nakapagdala kayo ng tsinelas kasi ‘show off’ lang yung heels nyo!
— Jorell Rendon (@jorellrendon) February 28, 2022
A netizen stressed that Robredo recently admitted that she was not comfortable wearing heels ever since the pandemic hit.
At sinagot na yan ni vp leni sa isang radio interview.. inamin nya na di na sya sanay dahil matagal na syang di nakakasuot ng high heels dahil sa pandemic… Hay talagang mababaw ang utak at pag-unawa ng mga kampon ng narcos at butangera…
— M!Koy+329 (@p0sit3VBuhay923) February 28, 2022
Another, without mentioning any names, clapped back by saying that “Kung hindi ka nagsusuot ng heels na more than 2 inches, wala kang karapatang punahin ang pag-yapak ni Madam President #LeniRobredo after standing in heels for more than hours.”
https://twitter.com/rubyredstiletto/status/1498172829606739969
2020 Miss Trans Global Mela Habijan cited the recently held Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards wherein actresses Selena Gomez and Nicole Kidman were seen barefoot.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1498138051624652801?s=20&t=3tE1cATvNkjQiS-uZXkmsA
In 2015, Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes wore heels in order to know the feeling of wearing one. It was also his way of honoring women who wear it almost every single day.
“Nagsuot ako ng heels bilang pagbigay pugay sa mga kababaihan sa buong mundo, lalo na sa buhay ko: ang aking Nanay, mga kapatid, at lalo na ang aking asawang si Marian,” he explained during the “In Her Shoes” event.
Dantes was joined by National Youth Commission chairperson Gio Tingson who said, “To walk in women’s shoes is a challenge for men to understand and reflect on the daily plight of women, rethink attitudes toward them and to realize the bias against women that is inherent in our culture, practices, and values.”
