Danica Sotto asks netizen to respect, spare cousin Ciara
DANICA Sotto came to the defense of her cousin, Ciara Sotto, after the latter was criticized following the controversial remark of her father, Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, to single mothers.
The senator made headlines on Wednesday after his "na-ano lang" joke during the panel hearing on the appointment of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo at the Commission on Appointments.
Sotto asked Taguiwalo about her being a single parent and said, "In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag dun e, 'na-ano lang".
The comment of the TV host/politician enraged a number of netizens who immediately expressed their disgust on social media. Some of them left comments on Ciara's official Instagram account.
"Ciara, your father needs help. He's hallucinating. Acting in the Senate as if he's in Eat Bulaga and seeing the people there as his 'audience'", one netizen wrote.
Danica, on her part, requested everyone not to drag Ciara and her son, Vicenzo Xose, in the issue.
She asked everyone to respect her cousin especially now that she's on vacation with her son.
"Please wag kayo dito mag comment. Respect her account. May mga nasaktan man pero unfair na idamay niyo siya pati ang pamangkin ko. Sorry if may mga na hurt but please let her enjoy her vacation," Danica wrote.
The actress added: "Please also show her some respect. Walang sino man ang perfect sa atin. Please don't make this issue bigger by giving unnecessary comments."
Ciara, the youngest daughter of Senator Sotto and seasoned actress Helen Gamboa, is separated from her businessman husband, Jojo Oconer.
She and her son left their family home January of last year and hinted a third party as the reason of the separation.
Ciara and Oconer met in 2005 during one of the US shows of noontime variety program "Eat Bulaga" and got married five years later at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
They welcomed Vicenzo Xose on February 27, 2015.
Celebrities react
Aside from netizens, some local celebrities also took to their social media accounts to react to the words of Sen. Sotto.
Pokwang, a single parent herself, applauded all mothers who singlehandedly took the responsibility of providing a better life for their family.
Sa lahat ng single mom sa buong mundo,, mabuhay tayong lahat!!! Yahooo... God bless us all ????????????? #PinagPala #moreBlessingstoUs
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) May 3, 2017
Janine Gutierrez, daughter of Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher, also articulated her respect to single parents.
My respect to all the single mothers who take on the immense responsibility of successfully raising children on their own ????????
— Janine Gutierrez (@janinegutierrez) May 3, 2017
"The Voice of the Philippines" coach Lea Salonga also articulated that single mother should never be seen as a "less than".
For much of my growing-up years, my mother was a single mother. I curse anyone and everyone that sees women like her as "less than."
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) May 3, 2017
My husband was, for much of his upbringing, raised by a single mother. I curse anyone that sees women like her as "less than."
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) May 3, 2017
For those that look down upon these beloved ladies, there's a special place in hell for the likes of you.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) May 3, 2017
As of this posting, Sen. Sotto apologized for his words and said it was meant to be a "joke".
"I'm sorry, I apologize. They don't understand the joke," he said.
Sen. Sotto added that he's the last person to disrespect women.
"I have two daughters who are separated, single, and have children. I don't think there should be any fuss about it," he ended. (SunStar Philippines)