Church official: SONA ‘fashion show’ sign of insensitivity

Lawmakers who make a fashion show out of this year's State of the Nation Address may be showing insensitivity to the plight of the people, a Catholic Church official said Wednesday.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz also reminded those attending President Benigno Aquino III's last SONA to show some sympathy with the poor instead of taking part in such a show.

"Ang tawag diyan ay manhid. Ibig sabihin ng manhid ay insensitivity. And therefore, it has no longer feeling for others except self–aggrandizement. Kayong ibang tao, bahala kayo sa buhay ninyo, wala akong paki–alam sa inyo. Pero ako ay pure, kailangan ako ay naka–makeup, naka–saya, may mga palamuti na singsing, kwintas, hikaw," he said on Church-run Radyo Veritas.

“Ewan ko kung matututo pa tayo, habang doon nagso–SONA sa magandang lugar na mabango, malinis, maraming palamuti, doon naman sa hall of Congress. Para makita talaga natin ang kaibahan na nagaganap sa labas, naroon ang gunit-gunit at madudumi na baro, at sila rin ay magkakaroon ng sariling SONA nila at ‘yun ang totoo. ‘Yun dapat ang pakinggan dahil yun ang katotohanan,” he added.

Cruz said he would feel ashamed over the supposed fashion show where some lawmakers or guests would arrive at the Batasan in fancy outfits.

In contrast, he said most Filipinos continue to live hand-to-mouth.

“Yung parang mga fashion show minsan nahihiya ako. Magaganda ang suot nila, maramaing perlas na nakalagay sa leeg, mga porselas na mga ginto. Pagkatapos, yung mga taong umaasa sa kanila ay hand-to-mouth existence lang,” he said.

Aquino is to deliver his last SONA before Congress on July 27. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News