Video of 'Playgirls' show at Filipino congressman's birthday party sparks outrage online
PUBLISHED : Friday, 02 October, 2015, 6:04pm
UPDATED : Friday, 02 October, 2015, 6:04pm
Alan Robles in Manila
One of the Playgirls performs one of the "parlour games" at the party.
Philippines President Benigno Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party yesterday found itself rushing to douse public outrage over a “surprise gift” involving scantily clad women, one of whom gyrated suggestively while seated on the stomach of a pudgy man lying flat on his back.
The trouble came from a party gathering on Thursday supposed to celebrate a congressman’s birthday and the oath taking of 80 local officials in Santa Cruz city in Laguna province southeast of Manila.
When the ceremonies ended, the announcer said there was an unexpected treat: The Playgirls, three young women dancers in skimpy two piece suits who proceeded to “twerk” and then invited male audience members to join in some “parlour games”.
Watch: Playgirl twerks on top of audience member at congressman's party
These transpired as acts of simulated sex. In one number, a dancer bent low and gyrated, while one audience member stood just behind her. In another, a Playgirl made a man lie flat on the floor and then went on top of him, grinding her hips.
A reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer shot a 20-second video of the acrobatic proceedings and posted it on Twitter, triggering an avalanche of disgust as the clip went viral.
“It was in very poor taste. The objectification of women should have no place in Philippine politics,” tweeted administration ally and former congresswoman Risa Hontiveros.
Entertainers have long been a staple of Philippine politics, with singers and skimpily clad dancers drawing in crowds, but critics noted the contrast between the video and the Aquino administration’s commitment to “Daang Matuwid” – the straight and narrow moral path. The Inquirer reporter noted that many members of the audience who saw the Playgirls were women and children.
Benjie Agarao, the LP congressman who was the recipient of the “gift”, initially said he saw nothing wrong with the programme.
“I’m a man’s man and I like these things,” he said, claiming such acts were common in Manila with politicians watching these “until dawn”.
In fact, he added unhelpfully, in the big city the women dance “in cages”.
By Friday morning, social media outrage and derision had made him change his tune. At first he apologised, noting that at least the dancers hadn’t been stark naked. Later he claimed he knew nothing about what happened.
“Women are not objects to be given away as gifts during celebrations,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
The reporter who shot the video said the announcer repeatedly stressed that the girls were a “gift” from Metro Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino, a close Aquino ally said to be planning to run for the senate next year.
Tolentino, who was videoed watching the show, seemed unable to explain his role. He has denied knowledge of what happened. But before that, he told one reporter: “I actually asked them to wear skirts.”
