Lady Gaga prompts solon's call for law against 'vulgar' shows

A congressman on Monday called on his fellow members of Congress to formulate a national policy against “vulgar and shocking” shows amid the controversy involving American pop idol Lady Gaga’s Philippine concerts on Monday and Tuesday.   In a privilege speech, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing described Lady Gaga as “the epitome of everything that a decent society declares as wrong” and as a “dangerous source of corruption to the youth.”   “I am worried the music videos she creates that promotes blasphemy and encourages the hatred of everything that is taught by God,” the lawmaker said Monday afternoon.   Bagatsing’s speech was delivered hours before the international pop star was scheduled to stage a concert being opposed by Filipino Christian conservatives.    The congressman likewise said that Congress should consider passing a national policy that will ensure that “vulgar” shows will not be permitted in the country. He noted that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has no jurisdiction over live concerts.   “So far, the tolerance we give to our entertainers have been regulated by the MTRCB,… but the powers apparently have no effect on shocking and vulgar shows that enter our country,” he said.   Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo meanwhile supported Bagatsing’s call for a policy to ban certain concerts in the Philippines.   “If this Lady Gaga will be allowed render her show in the Philippines, will this not show the twisted moral values of Filipinos today?” Romualdo said after Bagatsing’s speech.   ‘Let the youth decide’   Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, however, said the Filipino youth should be allowed to discern which type of music or artists are bad for them.   “Tiwala naman ako that our Filipino youth are matured enough. Marunong na silang mag-appreciate ng music,” he said in a separate press briefing.   “Sa tingin ko, ‘yung mga pupunta sa Lady Gaga concert, nandun para sa entertainment, hindi naman para humingi ng preaching kung ano ang dapat nilang gawin sa kanilang buhay,” he added.   Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan meanwhile said that her fellow lawmakers and other conservatives should “respect cultural and generational differences.”   “She [Lady Gaga] has the right to express herself through her songs. Kung ikaw, ayaw mo, then don’t listen to her songs,” she said. —VS, GMA News