Baguio City councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda has backed calls for Visayan singer Romeo Ogong to issue a public apology or face being declared persona non grata in the highland city.
In a public statement, Tabanda said: “As a woman and a public official, I take very strong offense at the remarks made by Romy Ogong at the Ibaloy Festival. His remarks trivialize the role and value of women. This only shows how lowly he thinks of women. He owes us a public apology. If not, we may declare him persona non grata here in the City.”
Ogong is under fire for making a gender-based slur directed at women during his Feb. 23 performance at the Melvin Jones Grandstand. The event was the Onjon ni Ivadoy Association, Inc.’s 17th Ibaloy Day, themed “Buday chiya Bagiw, makajowanan say wara e pan-aadivayan,” held in recognition of Ibaloy culture and the original settlers of Baguio.
Maria Cynthia Cornel Abalos of the Baguio Character Council first called out the performer on Tuesday, Feb. 24, following the Ibaloy Day performance, demanding an apology as well as an explanation from the Onjon ni Ivadoy Association, Inc.
Abalos said: “Naghahamon [siya] sino ang gusto pumila para mabigyan ng kanyang ‘sperm’ at maikalat ang kanyang lahi. That since modern days na, he is endorsing that in vitro fertilization is just normal and practical to secure a good race. Seriously? This kind of joke is not even funny. It was an insult to us women. I am a pro-lifer. I taught the youth of responsible sexuality education. In vitro fertilization is a medical procedure that gives HOPE to those couples who cannot bear a child in a natural way. It is a choice to complete their family. I am a mother with female children. I am a Filipina who made an effort to empower other women around me. And this type of joke, the way he stated it, slapped my dignity.”
Today, Feb. 25, Onjon ni Ivadoy, Inc., the organizer of the festival, acknowledged the concerns of the community. In a statement, the group said: “Ibaloy Day is a cultural and family-centered occasion founded on respect, dignity, and onjon (unity). Any expression that caused discomfort or offense was never the intention of the organizers, and for this, we extend our sincere apologies to those who were affected. In keeping with our commitment to accountability and respectful dialogue, Onjon ni Ivadoy, Inc. has reached out through the performer’s official page to respectfully request a statement or apology regarding the matter.”
The organization continued: “We value the voices of our community and take these concerns to heart. As we move forward, we commit to strengthening our guidelines and coordination to ensure that future celebrations continue to honor the spirit and values of Ibaloy culture.”
Tabanda backed Abalos adding: “Undeniably he is a good performer. In fact, he did not have to make these comments. But he did. Saying this in a festival which celebrates the Ibaloy culture insults not only the women, but even the men. This is not an issue of whether he is a local performer or not. This is an issue on gender sensitivity, not on place of origin.”
The issue is to be deliberated in the Baguio City Council today. Maria Elena Catajan