Juana Change gives PNoy 'tough love'

Mae Paner alias Juana Change — the Youtube hit who campaigned for then-candidate Benigno Aquino III in 2010 — now stars in a video taunting the President for buying himself a Porsche. In the video, Juana Change engages in a discussion with ordinary folk about President Aquino’s decision to purchase a “third-hand" Porsche. Critics have blasted this move for its “insensitivity" in the face of widespread poverty. “Que third hand, que second-hand, first-hand nating ibinigay sa kanya ang posisyon niya bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas! Aba, ang sabi niya, bayan muna bago ang sarili (It doesn’t matter if the car is third-hand, second-hand, first hand. Our votes for him were first-hand! He said he will put the nation first before himself)," Juana Change says in the video. In a talk before students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, actress Paner said she does not expect of the President to take on the role of the other extreme — to live in poverty. “Ngunit inaasahan natin na siya ay makikiramay sa kanyang mga boss sa pamamaraaang angkop — ang mamuhay nang simple at maging sensitibo sa kalagayan ng taumbayan (But we expect him to sympathize with his ‘bosses’ — to live simply and to keep himself sensitive to the people’s condition)," she said. “Siguro hindi niya ito magagawa kung buhay pa ang kanyang mga magulang (Maybe he could not have done this if his parents were still alive)," she said. Paner clarified, however, that she is not severing ties nor withdrawing support from Aquino. She called her commentary “tough love." — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMANews.TV