EDITORIAL

Beauty Is Femenism and Talent Unleashed

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

The recent Bb. Pilipinas 2012 winners, in an interview, after the coronation pageant on April 15 expressed favorable comments on allowing transgenders to join with the international beauty tilt (MP, April 15-21, 2012). They are Janine Tugonon, Bb. Pilipinas Universe, Nicole Schmitz, Bb. Pilipinas International and Katrina Dimaranan, Bb. Pilipinas Tourism.

Apparently, everybody was under pressure to submit to the demand of Miss Universe organizers and Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. Any rejection to the policy would result to sanctions that will besmirch their fame and honor. To give total support and endorsement to a highly controversial issue despite their celebrity status is no excuse for blatant disregard of true Filipino values.

The root of the controversy is whether to accept the norms in the US, UK, France, among others on transgender rights in the Philippines. The noted bible scholar and author Dr. John MacArthur in his book entitled, “Truth Matters” stated that in Western countries, all taboos have been abolished and replaced with one new taboo. No one is permitted to believe that absolute moral standards God instituted and revealed in the Bible should govern all human behavior. Divorce is available on demand for any reason and for no reason at all. Since gender differences are supposed to be down-played and eliminated as much as possible, it is now improper to speak of “headship” in the family as a masculine responsibility. 

In the US today, there is a rise of non-affiliated religious groups that reject religion because it is becoming rigid and dogmatic (Time, March 12, 2012). Evidently, society in general is bearing toward humanistic behavior that would lead to disintegration of the family. Living alone is the new norm which in 1950 it was only four (4) million Americans or 9 percent of total households. Now in 2011 census, nearly 33 million Americans make up 28 percent of all households living alone.

There is a moral and ethical dimension in the motive behind adoption of Miss Universe organizers and Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. to allow transvestites to participate in the international beauty pageant. Clearly, the organizers do not respect Filipino values and interest. Subscribing to their depraved mindset will inevitably result to societal dysfunction that will affect Filipino children’s future.

We need to return to biblical principles anchored on personal redemption and faith. Ignoring them would prove fatal as in the case of Israel’s experience when they first settled Palestine.

“Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and forsook the Lord God of their fathers who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreth. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around so that they could no longer stand before their enemies (Judges 2:11-14).

Ms. Nicole Schmitz said that people should respect each other since we are all (created) equal. This is only as far as a civil right is concerned. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them (Gen 1:27) Notice that there is no third sex mentioned.

In the light of Scriptures and Filipino societal values, the Philippines must boycott and denounce any policy of international beauty pageant organizers that tend to degrade women. We need to create an environment where women are respected, cherished and loved. What is beauty but feminism and talent unleashed.  /MP