Alec Baldwin apologizes for 'joke' vs Filipino women
Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin issued an apology for the controversial remarks he made about Filipino women on a television talk show in the United States.
“I'd like to offer an apology and a clarification to remarks I made recently,” Baldwin said.
In a statement, Baldwin said he was sorry for joking about finding a Filipina lover via the mail order bride business “to achieve the goal of having more children in my life”.
Baldwin’s comment was made during an appearance in the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’.
“I believe that most people understood that this was a joke and took it as such. However, I do apologize to anyone who took offense,” he said.
In his apology, Baldwin also acknowledged the anger and frustration about the issue of sex trafficking in the Philippines.
“Such anger and frustration about the issue of sex trafficking is understandable. The Philippines has suffered significant problems with the issue of sex trafficking,” he said.
It can be recalled that Baldwin’s remarks earned the ire of several Philippine lawmakers.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla called Baldwin’s comments as “truly insensitive and uncalled for.”
For her part, Sen. Loren Legarda said the award-winning actor’s joke was “tasteless, chauvinist and racist”.
“Filipino women are not for sale, not even to Hollywood actors [like Baldwin],” said Legarda.
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, advised Baldwin to undergo anti-prostitution and anti-human trafficking seminars to make him realize why his remark was deeply offensive.
“He should be acquainted with the exploitative nature of the mail-order bride and human trafficking industry. Abuse is no joke, and it should not be trivialized through humor. He should come here and get in touch with women victims of prostitution and trafficking,” Hontiveros said.
In the US, the Filipino community also reacted strongly against his demeaning comments about Filipino women. In a letter to Baldwin, Consul General Cecilia Rebong scored the “30 Rock” actor for generalizing Filipino women as "easy commodities for sale."
"The above statement was derogatory, prejudiced, insensitive, and stereotyped Filipino women negatively," Rebong said.
Citing Republic Act 6599 (Anti-Mail-Order Bride Law) and Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), Rebong said the Philippines continues to work hard to eliminate the trafficking of women and children, contrary to Baldwin's perceived impression of women in the country.
"These laws were enacted in our country to protect Filipino women from being sold into marriage to a foreigner and being taken overseas where the ability of our government to protect her interests is severely diminished," said Rebong.
On Wednesday, the Bureau of Immigration banned Baldwin from entering the Philippines because of the racial slur. With ANC’s Take One
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While I agree with the stance that my fellow Filipinos and Filipino Americans take on the issue of Baldwin's poor joke against Filipinas, I have to throw it back to The Philippines, and/or the likes of Revilla and Legarda. Personally, I cannot stand watching shows like "Wowowee" because of the portrayal of women. Their so-called "dancers" on the show are nothing more than glorified, and scantily clad, bar girls. The way that they are "choreographed" to move, and even the way that some of them speak while on mic, is appalling. In their eyes, they probably think that they're being "pa cute," or aligning themselves with dancers on shows from other countries. But let me tell you, I've seen American TV shows where women (and sometimes men) perform "hot" dances, but those are still tastefully and artfully choreographed. In The Philippines, the girls put on barely-there outfits, shake from side-to-side and gyrate like they're for sale, and then speak like bimbos.
If this is what women in The Philippines have to aspire to in order to make it into showbiz, then someone needs to give them an overhaul. The most appalling thing is watching these same girls dancing at other community events, especially those that coincide with political rallies and similar venues.
I respect women who know how to embrace their sensuality, but there is a fine line when it comes to doing so tastefully. The Pussycat Dolls, for example, tread that fine line but always maintain that sense of classiness. Wowowee's "Kembot Girls," however, are a cheapened version... and the thing is, many of them are beautiful and smart, and don't need to be prancing around national television like they're for sale at a meat market.