by Daryl Lagos
Founder - Azkals United

I get comments from people like "I am starting to hate Azkals United" - "Sexual Harassment should not be tolerated" & "Know your facts, Excuse me..." are just a few of them.

When we found out about the sexist & racist remarks of the GMA 7 hosts, I felt for the FILIPINA mothers who gave birth to these proud FILIPINOS dawning our flag in international football.

let me get this straight, We are not for the misconduct of any member of the team, certainly and strongly not for the tolerance of sexual harassment as a general act.

We are for the FILIPINOS who support the comeback of Philippine football.

We are for what is right and just...and I certainly believe that all of us are entitled to our own opinions.

What bothers me is that a public host/anchor/journalist/broadcaster who is by the way on the position to openly report on events across millions of viewers can tarnish,manipulate,mislead, and put malice to certain situations.

Building a good reputation is one of the hardest act to do, while destroying one is easy as taking a candy from a baby.

So why? are we getting paid? No. Am I for the harassment of women? certainly not. Then what?

When you are given the position to openly inform the public, it is a responsibility.

A responsibility that is to rightfully inform, report to the public, facts and not tarnishing opinions.

The pending case to 2 of the members of the Azkals has yet to be heard nor proven and the remarks you utter certainly tainted the situation painting an imagery of sexual offenders that can/will result to misleading public opinions.

As I said, we are also against such act, but to mislead public opinion...that is uncalled for.

Your racist comments towards these people are also overboard.

What can you say to the millions of Filipinos who trace their roots in our country even if he/she grew up abroad?

are they not entitled to their rights given by our very own law? which protects each and every citizen against bigotry, or an act of being narrow-minded?

It's funny how opinions can be both liberal and destructive, how it can be a shield towards ignorance and disrespect.

Simply put it this way, bigotry is believing that you are absolutely correct and nothing is above that like a fact and an opinion is about speaking a mind into it.

Journalist / Broadcasters should very well know the difference for it doesn't take rocket science to know that you've actually discriminated/offended a person and unlawfully mislead public opinion.

When the PFF questioned about the racist & sexist remarks, you answer on about sexual harassment.

is 1 + 1 = NO ?

the campaign against sexual harassment is no excuse to discriminate.

Paano naman yung purong pinoy sa dugo at balat ngunit paninira ang dulot sa kapwa? hindi ba yun ang hindi dapat tularan?

ESPN fired not just suspended a reporter because the community saw a racist remark on his headline with regards to Asian-American sensation Jeremy Lin.

They found the sensitivity to public opinion far greater than the reporters prejudice, cause at the end of the day it is the people that they serve & entertain that truly matters most.

Football has always been fighting to oust racism simply because it is the World's No. 1 sport and this is the reason behind our cause to fight it and destroy the seed that spreads division and discrimination.

Below is the official response from GMA Network to the statement of the Philippine Football Federation about Arnold Clavio:

Kamakailan, inireklamo ng sexual harassment ang dalawang miyembro ng Philippine Azkals ni dating Philippine Olympic Committee President Cristy Ramos, anak ni dating Pangulong Ramos.

Nitong Martes, napag-usapan po sa Unang Hirit ang sexual harassment complaint ni Cristy Ramos laban sa dalawang miyembro ng Azkals kung saan nagbigay ang ilang hosts ng kani-kanilang opinyon.

Kahapon, nakatanggap ang GMA Network ng liham mula sa Philippine Football Federation o PFF kung saan inireklamo ang mga komentaryo nina Arnold Clavio at Rhea Santos sa kanilang programa.

Nais po linawin ng GMA Network na ang mga inirereklamong pahayag ay hindi bahagi ng aming news reporting kung saan tanging mga statement of facts ang ibinabalita at kung saan walang puwang ang pagbibigay ng opinyon ng mga host. Ang mga inireklamong pahayag ay unscripted discussion ng Unang Hirit hosts sa commentary segment ng programa kung saan sila ay nagpalitan ng opinyon at nagbigay ng kani-kanilang pananaw tungkol sa naturang issue.

Nalulungkot po ang GMA Network na iba ang naging intindi ng Philippine Football Federation sa mga sinabi ni Arnold. Ang pinapatungkulan ni Arnold ay hindi kung Filipino citizen o kung may lahing Pilipino ang mga Azkals kundi kung naisapuso at naisaisip ba nila ang kulturang Pinoy.  

Ang  issue na tinalakay sa Unang Hirit ay sexual harassment—isang mahalagang issue kung saan matindi ang paninindigan ng mga host. Meron pong karapatan sina Arnold, Rhea at iba pang host na ihayag ang kanilang opinyon, isang karapatang pinoprotektahan ng ating Saligang Batas. Sang-ayon man kami o hindi sa kanilang opinyon, ang karapatan nilang ihayag ito ay kinikilala ng GMA Network tulad ng aming pagrespeto sa karapatan ng publiko at maging ng PFF na maghayag ng kanilang opinyon—basta ang nasabing opinyon ay hindi labag sa batas.

Sa liham ng Philippine Football Federation, sinabi nilang racist, discriminatory, libelous at malicious ang mga pahayag nina Arnold Clavio at Rhea Santos. Pero ang GMA Network po, walang nakitang racist, walang discriminatory, walang libelous at walang malicious sa mga komentaryo nina Arnold at Rhea.

14 March 2012
GMA NETWORK, INC.
GMA Network Center
EDSA corner Timog Avenue
Quezon City
Attention: Mr. GILBERTO R. DUAVIT, JR.
President & COO

Re: RACIST, LIBELOUS & DISCRIMINATORY STATEMENTS OF GMA-7 TV HOST
ARNOLD CLAVIO IN YOUR NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS TV PROGRAM
“UNANG HIRIT” ON 13 MARCH 2012

Gentlemen:

The PHILIPPINE FOOTBALL FEDERATION (PFF) would like to lodge a formal complaint with your organization for the racist, discriminatory, libelous and malicious statements of your Program Host, ARNOLD CLAVIO and his other co-hosts, during the nationwide broadcast of your News & Public Affairs Program “Unang Hirit” last 13 March 2012.

After reading a news report on the Philippines vs. India match (March 11, 2012), the Philippines vs. Tajikistan match scheduled on March 13, 2012, and a news report on how the members of the Philippine National Football Team (Men’s) focus on their scheduled games despite the sexual harassment complaint filed by CRISTINA RAMOS against Philippine team players LEXTON MOY and ANGEL GUIRADO, the following statements, among others, were uttered by your host ARNOLD CLAVIO, thus:

Host Rhea Santos – “Kailangan masampulan eh…”

Host Arnold Clavio – “Kaya talagang ano na. Aral na sa inyo yan, ang yayabang nyo akala nyo. Porke’t dinadagsa kayo ng mga fans, ang gugugwapo nyo eh.”

“Parang God’s gift to women”

“Alam mo lahat.. lahat nang… nakuwento nga ni Cristina at nang dalawa nyang kasama. Lahat ginawa para ipaalam na may babaeng papasok sa locker, ilang katok nga sila eh. Eh malapit na yung match eh. Kailangan ma-check na yung dalawang koponan. Eh nauna yung Philippine team bago yung Malaysian… na team.

“Ngayon nag-sorry para sa isa daw nilang kasamahan. Saan ka nakakita ng Azkal na may suso? Wala naman akong…. anong cup B? Maybe a cup B sa isang kasama?

“Palusot na lang…”

“Sana nag-sorry, sorry na lang talaga, di ba? Parang…”

“Hindi ko kayo ka-kultura. Kasi wala dito (pointing to his chest)…. at wala dito (pointing to his head)…”

“Hindi naman kayo Pilipino. Nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi. Hindi kayo dito lumaki”…

“Mahirap yun….. Insensitive.”

“Para maging aral.”

“Congratulations. Kasi hiwalay naman ito sa ginagawa nilang pakikipaglaban. So, good luck din sa inyong susunod na laban para mapunta kayo sa Final 4 ha. Na bihira pong marating nang Pilipinas sa matagal na panahon.”

“Alam naman nila yung mga sexcapades nila sa isa’t isa eh, di ba? Sino ba nag-penicillin.. Alam naman nila yun.”

“Akala siguro lahat sila gusto silang matikman siguro… makasama…Diyos ko.”

Your TV Host ARNOLD CLAVIO’s declarations that the members of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team “are not Filipinos” and “are only pretending to be Filipinos” are not only libelous and defamatory to the good name and reputation of the PFF and the Filipino players comprising the Men’s National Team now playing with their hearts for “flag and country” at the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal. They are also verbal statements of a racist nature and constitute malicious, contemptuous, discriminatory and denigratory remarks concerning race and origin that offend the dignity of the Filipino players and Filipinos who are similarly situated.

ARNOLD CLAVIO has made those scathing and offensive remarks with reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of his statements. In association football, only citizens of the country can be a member of the Representative “A” Team of the country, i.e., its National Team. In making his scurrilous statements, CLAVIO made it appear that PFF has selected persons who are not Filipino citizens to be members of and play for the Philippine National Team. This subjects all Philippine National Teams (not only the Men’s National Team) to doubts by international organizations, spectators and opposing national teams as to the Filipino citizenship, and therefore eligibility, of the Philippine team players. It also puts the name and reputation of the Philippines and the PFF in disrepute. CLAVIO obviously does not know (and neither he nor your program staff did not care to check) that only Filipinos can play in the Philippine National Football Team. Indeed, weeks prior to any international tournament a country has to submit to the organizer a list of its National Team players with proof of their citizenship or nationality (e.g. passports).

The members of the Philippine National Team now playing in Nepal at the AFC Challenge Cup are Filipinos just like your Unang Hirit hosts Arnold Clavio, Rhea Santos, Connie Sison and Lyn Ching-Pascual. Some of the current members of the Philippine Men’s Football Team have either a Filipina mother or a Filipino father, thus qualifying them to be natural-born Filipino citizens. One can notice the obvious discomfort of even CLAVIO’s co-host Lyn Ching-Pascual when he confidently uttered the words “Hindi naman kayo Pilipino. Nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi….”

ARNOLD CLAVIO also discriminates against the Philippine national team players who, for one reason or another, grew up or partly grew up outside the Philippines when he uttered the words “Hindi kayo dito lumaki”. This constitutes disparaging and demeaning remarks against Filipino children of Filipinos who are compelled by circumstances to work and live abroad with their children. His bias against Filipinos who grew up abroad is utterly shocking and is not expected to be blurted out by a TV host of your respected and reputable organization. Many Filipinos, including our own President Benigno S. Aquino, partly grew up abroad by force of circumstances. Are they less Filipino than those who grew up entirely in the Philippines?

ARNOLD CLAVIO is also guilty of sexist remarks and sex-related innuendo leveled against the Philippine National Team players when he uttered the words “Alam naman nila yung mga sexcapades nila sa isa’t isa eh, di ba? Sino ba nag-penicillin… Alam naman nila yun.”…..“ Akala siguro lahat sila gusto silang matikman siguro… makasama…Diyos ko.” Added to that statement was host Rhea Santos’ statement that “[y]ung mga babae…kasi porke guwapo… sikat… minsan halos itapon na nila yung mga sarili doon sa mga lalaki” that operate to demean and disparage Filipino women, in general, and the Filipino women supporters of the Philippine Men’s National Team. It must be noted that your Unang Hirit program caters to all age groups.

After uttering the above-stated libelous, racist and discriminatory remarks, and after obviously reading an idiot board or reminder from somebody (not covered by the camera), ARNOLD CLAVIO, congratulated the team and wished them luck during their next game so they could qualify for the semifinals of the Challenge Cup, a situation which CLAVIO himself admitted is seldom attained “by the Philippines”.”Nonetheless, the unquantifiable damage and injury to the PFF and the Philippine Men’s National Football Team has already been inflicted by the scurrilous and discriminatory words emanating from your TV host ARNOLD CLAVIO.

As you are aware, the matter of sexual harassment complaint by Cristina Ramos against Philippine players Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado is now pending before the PFF Disciplinary Committee which has primary jurisdiction over the complaint. While your organization may report news concerning the matter, we and the public expect that no racist, discriminatory, sexist, or disparaging remarks that offend the dignity of persons or organizations or maliciously defame persons or organizations are made by your hosts and reporters.

We thus lodge this complaint and protest with GMA NETWORK, INC. and demand that, (i) your organization impose, after requisite proceedings, the appropriate sanction on your TV host ARNOLD CLAVIO; (ii) your organization and/or ARNOLD CLAVIO rectify, among others, his discriminatory, racist and libelous assertions that members of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team are not Filipinos and are only pretending to be Filipinos; and, (iii) your organization and/or ARNOLD CLAVIO issue a written apology to the PFF and the Philippine Men’s National Football Team which should also be forthwith read and given prominence in your News & Public Affairs TV program, “Unang Hirit”.

We are thankful that in one way or another, your organization has helped in the promotion of football in the Philippines. We all know that encouraging the Filipino youth to engage in sports in general or play football in particular contributes to nation-building. We however strongly protest the previously cited statements of your Unang Hirit Hosts ARNOLD CLAVIO and RHEA SANTOS.
Very truly yours,

MARIANO V. ARANETA., JR.
President

EDWIN B. GASTANES
PFF Legal Counsel

by Daryl Lagos, Azkals United

The Philippines came from behind to win a historic spot in the Semi-Finals of the AFC Challenge Cup 2012.

Proud Filipinos celebrated this win but this TV news anchor spilled his gut on his morning show on national TV stating racist comments towards the players of the Philippine NAtional Football Team.

”Di naman sila mga Filipino, nagpapanggap lang na kayumangi...”

Slandered a way to weave himself to his biased point that the Azkals are "Sex offenders:...

"Alam naman nila yung mga sexcapades ng bawat isa..kung sino ang ngpepenecilin.."

A tag-line of GMA 7 News is

" walang kinilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, serbisyong totoo lamang "

" Nothing is Favored, Nothing is Protected, No Lies, True Service Only "

I think GMA 7 can very well discipline this anchor for misleading public opinions towards a sensitive issue that has yet to be proven.

In addition to this are the comments raised of the eligibility of these football heroes and insulting the feelings of their family, supporters and friends.

ESPN fired an employee, suspends an anchor after insulting racial reference to rookie New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin which goes to show that ESPN cared about the viewers who got offended by a racist remark on an athlete.

I don't think GMA 7 should treat this lightly because if they do, it only goes to show how they try to protect its anchors biased opinions, favoring a party of the accuser and letting them play around sensitive issues.

These people who are in National TV should be responsible enough on their words and to not arrogantly speak about their one-sided thoughts plus the fact they have not even had the chance to speak thoroughly with any from the AZKALS party.

Then there are the comments to the female supporters that jump because the team has good looking players...I smell personal insecurity there, I thought u were trying to speak your mind of respecting females, while in this very fact you insulted them right on?

Neil Etheridge tweeted :

 " So let me get this straight... Are people trying to say that my mums not Filipino? So I shouldn't play? Thought WE were a proud country? "

"....frustrating when we pour our hearts out and play with our hearts in our sleeves when we play all for the country "

Cesca Litton Tweeted :

" If we go by Arnold Clavio's definition of "Filipino" as being "lumaki dito" and "kayumanggi" then we just lost millions of people."

Angel Locsin Tweeted :

" I think arnold clavio's a good person. But this time, sobrang foul lang. That's his opinion. This is mine. Madali lang sumira ng reputasyon, mahirap ibalik. Konting sensitivity lang sana.."

Bob Guerrero Tweeted :

" Mr Clavio I dare u to tell the moms of our filfor players to their faces that their sons hav no ryt to call themselves Pinoys. #ArnoldClavio "

I feel sad personally for the FILIPINA mothers of these players because of the foolish statements uttered by these ignorant news anchors.

GMA 7 should fire if not suspend your ignorance.

at the start of the video, the female news anchor even said "..Dapat masampolan..."

Dapat po yata kayo ang sampolan.

Azkals United Cause: Fire if not suspend Arnold Clavio of GMA 7 and we demand a Public Apology from the UH Anchors.

Say yes to this page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Racist-GMA-7s-Anchors/367214049978167?ref=tn_tnmn