Ramon Bautista apologizes after 'hipon' remarks draw ire of Davao City officials

Comedian Ramon Bautista drew the ire of Davao City officials after describing women in the city as hipon during an event at the Kadayawan Festival on Saturday.

"Ang daming hipon dito sa Davao, alright!" said Bautista in a video uploaded on YouTube by user ariepogi.

That prompted action from Davao City vice mayor Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, who said he spoke to the comedian about the remarks.

"Wa nako palabya ug atong gistorya ning tawhana ug gipasabot nato nga gibastos ta niya, ilabi na ang atong kababayen-an. Pirting pangayo ug pasaylo natong tanan ug di na daw niya usbon. Nag public apology sya sa party ug mi saad nga di na niya himuon usab," read Duterte's post on Facebook.
 
("I didn't let it pass and I talked to this guy to let him know that he disrespected us, especially our women. He was saying sorry and he said he wouldn't repeat it. He made a public apology during the party and promised he wouldn't do that again.")

The popular Internet personality later took the stage again to say sorry.



"I'm here in front of you to say my apologies because sinabi ko ang daming hipon dito. Oo nga, nahihiya po ako sa inyo because you welcomed me in your beautiful city. Andito po ako lagi at nag-e-enjoy po ako dito. Para masabi ko po yung mga na marami sa inyo ang na-offend. I'll say my sincerest apologies, sana po matanggap niyo. Andito po ako para makisaya sa Kadayawan Festival at para maging enjoyable ang gabing ito. From the bottom of my heart, sobrang nahihiya po ako sa inyong lahat.  Sana mapatawad niyo po ako. Mahal ko po kayong lahat," he said.

Hipon is a Filipino pejorative to describe people with nice bodies but unattractive faces in reference to how a shrimp's body is edible but the head is thrown away.

Inday Sara fumes

Despite the apology, some people aren't happy about the incident.

Former Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, for her part, wants the comedian declared "persona non garata" for the incident, calling on councilors to pass a resolution doing so.

"Attended this Kadayawan Invasion and heard this (Ramon Bautista) guy say 'hipon' ang mga babae sa Davao. Pila sa ako mga fb friends ang konsehal.. if you do not call out this guy as a persona non grata, your doing a disservice to women all over!! P at F to you Ramon Bautista! bisita ka lang, gumalang ka!" she wrote in a post on Facebook. — JST, GMA News