“There’s no malice.”
That’s what the Filipino woman publicly kissed by President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday said when no other than the government-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) asked her about the controversial incident.
In the interview posted today, overseas Filipino worker Bea Kim, who has been living in South Korea for seven years, even said that she was happy to have met the president.
After Duterte’s speech at the Grand Hilton Hotel and Convention Center yesterday, the president called on Kim and another woman to receive a book he was giving away.
True to his macho nature, Duterte said he couldn’t offer it to men because he wanted a kiss in exchange.
While the other woman got away with giving Duterte an air kiss, Kim ended up giving the president a kiss on the lips.
Understandably, this did not go over well with netizens, so many were shocked with Kim’s reaction.
In the PNA video, Kim says in Filipino: “I can’t explain it. It’s like I was nervous, I was scared, excited, thankful. I was happy because it’s like a once in a lifetime experience, right? Even in the Philippines, it’s a longshot to see the president that close.”
She even explained that the kiss was only done to “thrill” the audience.
“Promise, for me and President Duterte, it meant nothing,” Kim said.
Netizens have openly discussed Kim’s reaction on social media, with many women urging others to speak out against their harassers.
Actress Agot Isidro called the PNA’s interview with Kim “damage control.”
This is not an explanation.
This is Damage Control.
Hay, Pilipinas.
Hay, Filipina.
We could do better than this. https://t.co/aBV3K4WjwL— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) June 4, 2018
Twitter user @SPAMelaHam said she hopes more people find the strength to fight back.
“I understand that it’s not easy to say ‘no’ because it’s a president you’re facing but the pervert president’s attitude was not right,” @SPAMelaHam said in Filipino. “I hope this doesn’t happen again, it’s not right for someone to use you just to thrill others. I hope we find the strength to fight back.”
https://twitter.com/SPAMelaHam/status/1003313054124335106
@dandanshanne had similar thoughts.
“It’s about time we speak up against a misogynist and a sexist leader. We will not be defined by your disgusting and disrespectful remarks towards us. Yes, this is for you, Mr. President,” she wrote.
https://twitter.com/dandanshanne/status/1000609638625112064
Because it apparently isn’t said enough, @karadavid reminded that “A woman is not an object.”
“A woman is not an object. She is not something; she is someone. You treat a woman with respect. She is not your toy. She doesnt owe you anything just cause you are a man. Grow up and start treating women how they deserve to be treated” #BabaeAko
— Kara David (@karadavid) June 4, 2018
Actress Chai Fonacier also shared her reaction to the controversy, telling women to “Make [the president] remember feminine strength.”
https://twitter.com/rrrabidcat/status/999999246756528130
Many also started using the hashtag #BabaeAko (#IAmAWoman) in protest of the incident and Duterte’s past sexist remarks.
