Are we really still asking women this question in 2021?
Despite moving from his podium in Malacañang to the judges’ table in the Miss World Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque still managed to make people grind their teeth with his remarks.
This time, it was a question he asked Cebu Province bet Shaila Rebortera during the Q&A portion of last Sunday’s six-hour affair, which many online perceived to be sexist and misogynist. It went like this:
“The frontunner in all the surveys for the post of president is a woman. If she were to ask you, should she run for president even if her children are very young, what advice would you give her?”
Roque’s question appears to be pertaining to Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, who are both being goaded to gun for the presidency in the 2022 national elections.
Luckily, Rebortera was able to turn the tables on the question by saying that such sacrifices are what make female leaders strong and brave.
“If our candidate would like to pursue becoming a president despite sacrificing time for their family in exchange of serving the Filipino people, then I would definitely support that,” Rebortera replied.
Twitter users, however, weren’t as composed in calling out Roque’s question:
During Monday’s weekly press briefing, Roque responded to the backlash that his pageant question drew online.
“OA po ’yun na misogynistic ’yun. That’s a valid question. If you disagree, you’re entitled to your opinion, mag-judge din kayo,” Roque said to his detractors.
Vice President Leni Robredo has yet to bare her plans to vie for the presidential post, while Sara Duterte Carpio has filed her certificate of candidacy for Davao City mayor for a second term.
Art Daniella Sison
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