Protest Daily Show 'slut' tag on Cory - Miriam to DFA

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said Friday she will ask the Department of Foreign Affairs to send a note verbale against the US television show “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" which used a disparaging photograph of former President Corazon Aquino with the word “Slut" on it. "I just have to write another request. I hope [Foreign Affairs] Secretary [Alberto] Romulo does not get peeved with me, “ said Santiago who chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations. Santiago was reported to have been nominated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The senator earlier bared plans of leaving the Senate should she secure a seat in the ICJ when Jordan’s term expires in 2009. Meanwhile, Gabriela secretary general Emi de Jesus said the militant group will send a protest letter to the network which airs “The Daily Show," saying that the insult was not done only on Mrs. Aquino but on all Filipino women. “Sa palagay ko kahit na sinong babae na masabihan noon ay isang hindi lamang simpleng affront. Violation siya, isang malaking pagtampalasan doon sa pagkatao (I think any woman who would be called in that way would not dismiss it as a simple affront but a violation, a big dishonor to her humanity)," she said. “The Daily Show" is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning American satirical television program produced by and airing on Comedy Central. In the said five-minute segment titled, “Is America Ready for a Woman President?" a cut-out photograph of Aquino with the word “Slut!" and three tiny hearts written on it was shown as correspondent Samantha Bee delivers the line, “Corazon Aquino faced down dictators…" Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, the ex-President’s eldest son, said that the episode was made in poor taste and called on the network to review the show first before airing it. “Tinanong ko ang nanay ko kangina ang sabi niya ipagdadasal niya kung sino man 'yung gumawa (I asked my mother about it and she said she’ll just pray for the show’s creators)," said Sen Aquino. Senator Aquino's office issued this press statement Friday: "The Daily Show episode where former President Aquino was featured together with Prime Minister Golda Meir and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was part of a joke intended for American audiences who are facing the possibility of having a woman president. It is sad that while adding humor to such an important issue, the producers of the show chose to use pictures that were disrespectful, insensitive and in extremely poor taste. My mom only wishes to convey that she will include those who made this video in her prayers." Aquino’s youngest daughter, television host Kris Aquino, found the derogatory word used against her mother very offensive. She said in a text message to GMA News that “Americans would take the same type of offense if our own Bubble Gang referred to President Jimmy Carter or John F. Kennedy as gigolo." Aquino who was hoisted to power after a popular uprising in 1986 was the first female President of the Philippines and of Asia. She is the widow of vocal opposition senator Benigno Aquino Jr., the charismatic opposition leader who was assassinated in 1983. Time Magazine also hailed her as the “Woman of the Year" in 1986 after leading the peaceful revolt against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV