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ERAP O BAYONG?
MEDIA RELEASE
26 July 1999
What is the scientific name of President Joseph Estrada? The choices are: barumbadismus chauvinismus, machochismus-pasismus, tuta ng kanosus or inutilus presidentus. The answer? All of the above. This, according to the militant women's group GABRIELA.
The "scientific name" was part of the "ERAP o BAYONG" protest contest staged by GABRIELA this morning in time for the State of the Nation Address of President Estrada.
A takeoff from a noontime show, GABRIELA parodied the Estrada's year-old administration to a variety show entitled MTB or Macho at Traydor sa Bayan produced by Alak, Babae, Sugal or ABS Productions.
The protest action, spoofing the popular game "Pera o Bayong", was GABRIELA's response to President Estrada's endorsement of the On-Line BINGO as a solution to the economic crisis.
"The Estrada administration merely tries to divert our attention from the crippling economic crisis by beguiling women with its action star showbiz antics. And in an attempt to cover up for its inutility, it insultingly encourages women to pin their hopes on games of chance" said GABRIELA Secretary General Liza Largoza Maza.
According to the women's group, Filipino women are worse off today than a year ago. Last year, the daily cost of living for a family of six in Metro Manila was pegged at P 435. This year, it increased to P464 while the minimum wage remains at P198.
Maza also said that despite the government's adamant position on death penalty, supposedly to curb criminality, at least 8 women are raped daily in the country.
The group also noted that there was an increase of 1.2% in the number of prostituted women from 500,000 to 600,000 as cited by the ILO.
"And with the growing unrest of the people, the macho-fascist Estrada government has started reformatting its "show" to a horror series by duplicating its idol's Martial Rule" Maza added.
"That's why between Erap and bayong, women would most likely choose the latter. At least, a bayong serves us well" the group concluded.
