On Sat, May 23, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (UHM) Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) posted a controversial statement on its Facebook page.
The statement was titled, “Statement regarding the Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) 40th Anniversary Fiesta.”
In it, they criticized Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto for his controversial remarks. They pointed out that he promoted himself and was also “sexist.”
READ: Is this for real? Hawaii-based Center for Philippine Studies slams Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto
Finally, Meloto has responded to CPS’ statement.
Below is the full text of Meloto’s statement, which was first posted on Facebook by Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and journalist Ceres Doyo:
This is the first time I’ve been called a “sexist,” “elitist” and (someone with) “colonial mentality,” which definitely I’m not, after hundreds of speeches in the Philippines and abroad, and after caring for the poor everyday, protecting women and children and promoting pride as a Filipino everywhere I go in the last 20 years. It hurts.
I was in Hawaii April 10-12, and my speeches were well received, including the one for the Center for Philippine Studies, where I had the biggest audience who were inspired by the message of hope about our rising economy and the work of GK to help in inclusive growth, aside from our massive rehab effort for Haiyan victims. There was no public negative response after the speech, just a lot of picture taking and coffee later on with a big group of Fil-Ams, mostly women, who invited me to their big event in Hawaii in August. The newspaper accounts of the event that came out, from Filipino Chronicle and Tribune were all factual and positive.
It was a shock for me to get the negative report from [CPS] 45 days after the event, when all along most of the time I thought that more of them would be helping Gawad Kalinga in our work of nation-building. I was not prepared for the massive bashing I received from social media after because my statements were taken out of context and my metaphors were given a negative interpretation. I spoke candidly about bright foreigners finding the Philippines as the land of opportunity, hub for social entrepreneurs and the most beautiful country in Asia, including our women. I cited two of my daughters who married foreigners, a Brit and a Fil-Am, who were volunteers in GK and left their countries to live in the Philippines. It would be ridiculous for a father like me to trivialise and insult my daughters, whom I love and respect, to lure foreigners to our country. I have the highest respect for our women who are the heart of our home and community. Many of the words taken out of context were theirs, not mine.
I was accused of having colonial mentality.
On the contrary, I have been working for liberation from a colonial mentality by being proud of my being Filipino — and my brown color. I promote world-class Filipino brands and services through social entrepreneurship to create inclusive wealth in the Philippines that does not leave the poor behind.
When I joked about 10 million Filipinos abroad being an asset and good citizens in their adopted countries, many marrying locals and raising hybrid children (I have my five grandchildren I affectionately call “cappuccinos”). I often share how I humoured my British son-in-law Dylan when he asked my blessing to marry my daughter: “I will allow Anna to marry you so we can improve your race.” I don’t know if my belief that brown is beautiful and we don’t need skin whitener to make us beautiful makes me a racist.
I was also accused of being elitist.
How can I be elitist when I spend almost everyday of my life with the least privileged in the slums, with victims in calamity areas and the landless farmers? But GK partners with government, universities and corporations, local and international, because the work is massive and we need everyone’s help. If bringing the rich schools (including many foreign interns) and corporations to help the poor out of poverty makes me an elitist, I guess I’m guilty.
I was accused of being sexist.
This is the first I’ve been called such, and it hurts, cause I’ve always worked for the protection of women and children from domestic abuse and societal discrimination. In fact GK has been strict in the discipline of men through values formation and GK village rules that do not tolerate habitual drunkenness, drugs, gambling and domestic and community violence. Our women are not the problem – Filipino women are our biggest blessing because of their caring and nurturing nature. But if men are the problem – our criminals are mostly men – we should not give up on them but instead help reform them and make them part of the solution.
Anyway, I may have offended some who did not agree with me or appreciated my humor and I can respect that. But the least that University of Hawaii CPS could have done was to write me first, for the courtesy of a reply or an apology from me if one was needed, before unleashing it to social media. They should have spoken to me after my speech on anything they found disagreeable, which they didn’t.
Despite this being the first time it happened to me, it has taught me valuable lessons. To be more sensitive to my audience and respect their opinion, social change will inspire many but also upset others and to realize the power of social media.
I hope this will be over soon so I can continue with the mission of building our Filipino Dream of ending poverty in our country.
Photo: Lesechos.fr
