Friday, August 04, 2006
City Hall protests beauty search spoof
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
THE Davao Medical School Foundation (DMS) has decided not to push through with the "Lakambini ng DMS" search Friday after the City Mayor's Office, through the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD), threatened to recommend the cancellation of the school's permit to operate.
The search is supposedly one of the highlights in the celebration of DMS College of Medicine's 30th year.
In a letter dated August 2 and addressed to DMS president Dr. Jonathan A. Alegre, IGDD officer-in-charge Patmei B. Ruivivar reminded DMS that the search will violate the Davao City Women Development Code of 1997 or City Ordinance 5004, particularly Section 5, Article 1.
Section 5, Article 1 provides that "beauty contests, which tend to commodify, abuse, humiliate and treat women as sex objects shall be strictly prohibited in schools, communities, barangays, and by the City Government in its special celebrations, but in their stead and projection of women's strength and potentials, especially with regard to indigenous and culturally-relevant forms shall be encouraged."
"We have learned that this beauty contest is meant to be a mockery of women and gays where men will be asked to wear evening gowns and swimsuits as a way of entertainment," Ruivivar said in her letter.
Ruivivar, who is also the City Mayor's Office chief-of-staff, said the activity does not serve any useful purpose in the celebration of the school.
"In fact, the Lesbians-Gays-Bisexuals-Transgendered community and our gender advocates in the city find it gender insensitive and downright offensive," she said.
According to Ruivivar, penalties are provided for those who violate the provisions of the Women's Code.
For educational institutions, penalties, such as cancellation of the license to operate and fine of P5,000, will be imposed if found to have violated the code.
Ruivivar said the school should reconsider the holding of the event so the IGDD will not recommend the cancellation of its license to operate and the imposition of the fine as stipulated in the city ordinance.
Meanwhile, a lady employee of DMS who requested anonymity, said in a phone interview that the school has already decided not to push through with the search.
"We received the letter Thursday but, even before we received the letter, the school has already decided not to push through with it because it was already questioned by some school heads," she said.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 4, 2006 issue)
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