A Filipino actor has defended himself from critics after making an incendiary tweet stating that people who are incapable of supporting their children shouldn’t have them in the first place.
Iñigo Pascual reposted a Philippine Daily Inquirer article about him on his Twitter account yesterday and wrote: “I don’t owe anyone an explanation. If people take this in a different context, that’s not on me… ”
I don’t owe anyone an explanation.
If people take this in a different context, that’s not on me…I saw kids standing in the middle of the road asking for money whilst driving back home from Batangas.
All i was saying is that these Kids deserve to have a childhood. Not working. https://t.co/5pIPNwVFOc— inigo 💎 (@OneInigoPascual) August 29, 2018
The 20-year-old celebrity added: “I saw kids standing in the middle of the road asking for money whilst driving back home from Batangas. All [I] was saying is that these [k]ids deserve to have a childhood. Not working.”
The Inquirer article was about a tweet he posted on Monday where he said he is “so done” seeing street kids.
im so done seeing kids asking for money from people in cars…
kids are meant to have a childhood…
they deserve to play and learn life…wag maganak kung hindi maalagaan.
hindi nila kasalanan na hindi kaya ng magulang nilang suportahan sila…
😔— inigo 💎 (@OneInigoPascual) August 27, 2018
The tweet went: “[I]’m so done seeing kids asking for money from people in cars… [K]ids are meant to have a childhood… [T]hey deserve to play and learn life.”
Now he probably would have gotten away with that but he added this last bit in Filipino: “Don’t have kids if you can’t take care of them. It’s not their fault that their parents can’t support them.”
Iñigo is a bit of a showbiz royalty. His father, Piolo Pascual, was a highly regarded dramatic actor for the past decade before he transitioned to becoming a successful movie producer.
While some Filipino actors spend years playing bit parts on TV and in movies before they become household names, quite a lot of Filipinos were already aware of Iñigo before he even started acting, thanks to his father.
Taking his privileged background into account, many — understandably — criticized Iñigo‘s first tweet, which many thought was insensitive.
He was mocked by netizen @jaicabajar who wrote: “Reproductive Health Bill by Inigo Pascual. Section 1: Stop being poor.”
Reproductive Health Bill by Inigo Pascual
Section 1: Stop being poor https://t.co/6qTzn5LYrp
— Jai Cabajardashian (@jaicabajar) August 29, 2018
Commenting on PDI‘s article, @Minipax 1984 told the young actor: “When you have education, resources, the safety of a home, parents who guide and protect you, and put a silver spoon in your mouth, it’s so easy to judge the less fortunate. Talk is cheap.”
So, what will you do to help? It’s easy to talk down on others when you’re privileged. When you have education, resources, the safety of a home, parents who guide and protect you, and put a silver spoon in your mouth, it’s so easy to judge the less fortunate. Talk is cheap.
— Nojo Mojo (@Minipax1984) August 29, 2018
Wrote @siffemar in Filipino: “Here we are again with the victim blaming attitude.”
Heto na naman tayo sa victim blaming na attitude.
— ueme x sef (@siffemar) August 29, 2018
A certain @Anondrogynous wrote on Iñigo’s Twitter account with: “Nobody wants kids to have to work, that’s obvious. But I hope you at least listened to those who were saying that this is also a systemic problem that needs to be fixed, so the blame should not be on the parents alone!”
He adds: “You have a voice. And a platform. PLEASE use it for GOOD.”
Nobody wants kids to have to work, that’s obvious. But I hope you at least listened to those who were saying that this is also a systemic problem that needs to be fixed, so the blame should not be on the parents alone!
You have a voice. And a platform. PLEASE use it for GOOD.
— JWL (@anondrogynous) August 30, 2018
Iñigo’s tweets indicate that he is probably unaware that while the Philippines has the Reproductive Health Law (RH Law) which provides universal access to contraceptives, the law was only implemented in 2017 after being stalled for five years.
Unfortunately, the RH Law’s implementation has not been consistent because its enforcement depends on the will of local politicians. Its effects, if there would be any, would not be felt for a few more years.
It’s a necessary law because the monthly family income of an average family in the Philippines is only PHP22,250 (US$416.44). That’s a statistic provided by the government no less, an amount certainly insufficient to purchase contraceptives (or even to buy food).
However, being a showbiz personality, Iñigo also has his fair share of supporters.
This includes @Eurica37100955 who wrote: “Iñigo has a point. There are some parents who let their kids beg even if they are capable of working.”
May point nman c iñigo ehh…meron kasing ibang magulang na hinahayaan na mamalimos yong anak nila pero ung magulang kaya pa nman maghanap buhay
— Eurica (@Eurica37100955) August 29, 2018
Do you think Iñigo’s tweet was correct or insensitive? Let us know by tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
