Kapamilya actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin said on Friday, September 10, that people should be more sympathetic.
“Walang mawawala kung mas maging sympathetic at mas sensitive tayo sa feelings ng ibang tao. Wala yan sa gender, sa pagiging makatao iyon.
“‘Pag may nasaktan tayo with our words and actions…mas maging mapagmalasakit tayo,” Locsin said in a ManuLife webinar about creating safe spaces.
Recently, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had a tantrum during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). He berated health workers who merely opposed the government’s ease of restriction amid the surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.
When the video of Roque’s outburst obtained by Inquirer blew up, many celebrities, including Locsin castigated the official via their respective social media accounts.
Locsin wrote on her Instagram story pointing that Roque should refrain from humiliating medical professionals, the ‘modern-day heroes,’ who deserve all the benefits and support they can get from the government.
“Naiintindihan ko yung concern para makapaghanap-buhay na ang mga tao. Pero bakit natin sinermonan yung mga medical workers natin pagkatapos ipatawag para humingi ng opinyon?
“‘Di ba spokesperson siya ng presidente? Siya na rin ba si DOH (Department of Health) o employer ng mga medical workers?
“Ang employee may karapatan na benefits. Ibigay kaya muna yung benefits na hindi pa nababayaran,” wrote Locsin.
Roque then issued an apology on Friday, September 10, clarifying that he got ’emotional’ because of how Filipinos are struggling to ‘make ends meet.’
“That’s the first time that I lost my bearing in an IATF meeting, but as I said, I may apologize and I have in fact ,apologized for the manner, but never for the message.”
“Nagalit po talaga ako dahil sa tingin ko panahon na po na marinig ang inyong boses ng IATF. Tama na po ang lockdown, magtatagal po talaga ang COVID hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong daigdig,” he reasoned.
Also present in the ManuLife webinar with Locsin, were actor Ian Veneracion, UNESCO Global Champion for Inclusive Education Brina Kei Maxino, and Board President of the Youth for Mental Health Conditions Dr. RJ Naguit, who shared how important it is to build a better world of safe spaces.
