Foreign-born Azkals could use cultural orientation on women, says Palace

After being accused of sexual harassment by a daughter of a former President, foreign-born members of the Philippine “Azkals” football team may benefit from undergoing a "continuous orientation" on Filipino culture, a Malacañang official said over the weekend. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made this statement after noting many members of the team were not raised in the Philippines and may be unfamiliar with Filipino values. “Considering many members of the team did not grow up here, it will not be harmful to have a continuing orientation on Philippine culture, especially on how we conduct ourselves when there are women around,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. Cristina Ramos, daugher of former President Fidel V. Ramos and a match commissioner of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has lodged a sexual harassment complaint over an incident before an Azkals' match in Manila. The complaint specifically addresses Azkal players Angel Guirado, who is half Spanish and grew up in Spain, and Lexton Moy, born and raised in New York City, before the Asian Football Confederation. Ramos, however, has said she hopes the entire team is sanctioned since she observed them tolerating the players' offensive behavior. The players could face a suspension of at least several matches. Guirado is among the more dangerous strikers on the team, having scored two goals against Bangladesh in a 3-0 victory last year. The complaint stemmed from an incident during a pre-match inspection by Ramos in the Azkals' dressing room last month, when Guirado reportedly paraded in front of her in his underwear and Moy allegedly made a lewd comment about her bra size. On the other hand, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman wants to take a different tack, by requiring them to undergo a psychological evaluation. For now, Valte said the Palace will defer to the Philippine Football Federation on the investigation. Her proposal, however, echoes a familiar criticism of the Azkals' team composition. Since more than ten members of the team were born and raised overseas, they have belatedly learned the Philippine national anthem, and most don't know any local languages. In their matches against Kuwait last year, the Kuwaiti press harped on the Philippines' need to import "Europeans." The Azkals' best players were born and raised in Europe, including the British Younghusband brothers and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.  — LBG/HS, GMA News