http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151420/Nene-wants-probe-into-naked-protest-in-U-Belt
Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel is a master at making headlines.
So now even as the debate over his Right of Reply Bill continues he’s pounced on another issue, one that’s eliciting more guffaws than any serious consideration.
That ala-UP Oblation Run stage in Sampaloc’s University Belt by members of the Alpha Pi Omega Fraternity in tribute to their iskolar-ng-bayan kinsmen.
But is Pimentel’s dander really up or is he just prepping to become a social commentator when he graduates from the Senate?
The venerable senator fails to realize that these naked runs, flashing as it’s called in the First World, is really considered just another way of exercising freedom of expression.
Hey, If Pimentel is so scandalized he shoud sue to have even the Oblation statue torn down. But that would rouse even the long-resting spirit of Fernando Poe Senior who is popularly thought to be the model for Guillermo Tolentino masterpiece.(According to a book tribute to Guillermo Tolentino, it was actually a student apprentice ,Anastacio T. Caedo, who served as the model for the sculpture.)
It depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing selfless offering of oneself to his country.
As Tolentino himself described his work:
The completely nude figure of a young man with outstretched arms and open hands, with tilted head, closed eyes and parted lips murmuring a prayer, with breast forward in the act of offering himself, is my interpretation of that sublime stanza. It symbolizes all the unknown heroes who fell during the night. The statue stands on a rustic base, a stylized rugged shape of the Philippine archipelago, lined with big and small hard rocks, each of which represents an island. The “katakataka” (wonder plant) whose roots are tightly implanted on Philippine soil, is the link that binds the symbolized figure to the allegorical Philippine Group. “Katakataka” is really a wonder plant. It is called siempre vivo (always alive) in Spanish. A leaf or a piece of it thrown anywhere will sprout into a young plant. Hence, it symbolizes the deep-rooted patriotism in the heart of our heroes. Such patriotism continually and forever grows anywhere in the Philippines.
Having this knowledge, would Pimentel have the humility to cool down and focus not on assaulting free speech but on fighting the greater, more insidious scandals plaguing Philippine society?
Or if he still wants to extract headine value from the Sampaloc stunt he can file a paxpayer’s suit against the youngers for indecent exposure or alarm and scandal.
But I doubt if any of the witness, specially the shrieking ladies, will join Pimentel.
As for his own ‘stunt’, the RORB, Mr. was insisting on Che Che lazaro’s Media In Focus show that he simply feel journalist should be taught where their right ends and where responsibility is of greater import.
He insists media responsibility can be legislated.
As Congressmam and journalist-of-the-first-order Teddy Boy’ Locsin said during the show, “prior restraint is also when you mandate what journalist must write to satisfy a law/”
And he says “even if Pimentel’s RORB becomes law, journalists will, and should, simply ignore and defy it.”
Hell there should than be a law making it illegal for public officials to hang their mugs on power lines and advertise themselves in projects paid for using taxpayer money!
Here’s a bit of an update. :)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=446597&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Popularity: 2% [?]
Nude Dude or Dude Nude,
Typical tactic of blokes caught with their hyper- ill-logicity.
They invoke some law. The ‘Dura lex ded lex’ ho hum. ZZz zzz.
Wake me up when all this BS is over.
P.S. Nude Dude,
The ZZZ zzz, illogical but legal (sic) BS was not meant for you. But for some legal eagles/researchers in FV.
Are we there yet, legal eagles? ZZZ…zzz…
“what exactly is the cause of streaking among students in Philippine campus?”
Ayun, yan muna ang pagtuunan ng kasagutan, before making assumptions out of nowhere (moral or immoral, normal or abnormal; asus, kumbaga formulate your research question first). Not getting the right question will mislead you into fishing for irrelevant answers.
A very small issue morphs into something “big” when it’s a matter of asking the proper question(s).
Geehaw.
Nude,
TY. Now, that’s what you call proper research.
“Spectators are expected to bring money, which the streakers grab from their hands as they run by.”
Ah, the Pinoy can do it for the money too. In this time of crisis, we should be doing more streaking not only in Morayta. Edsa, Baclaran and Divisoria might be good places too..
“The activity has been known to catch bystanders unawares, despite heavy publicity featuring the slogan, “Bring money, or you’re a pervert.””
Too bad they don’t have ABS-CBN Channel 2/8 there.
We are truly in Nude’s debt having validated this thread’s title. :)
This is one such example of how blogging debates, no mattter how cantankerous they can become, is at the forefront of free expression.
they can continue running naked as a tradition but i am sensing liability in the near term.
this run has no purpose or real cause. it’s a copy cat and it’s not original. it’s all copied from all those US colleges posted by NUDE :) ” as if” or a ” wannabe” meaning it’s not very pinoy?
Yes and no, leytenian.
What indeed is ‘pinoy’, given how our culture imbibes the best, and sadly the worst (perceived or real?) of Western culture?
I say any practice, foreign or native, if put to good use may result in benefits.
Blogging, for example, is not an ‘original’ Pinoy practice but look at where it is taking public discourse.
ding,
blogging is acceptable by majority and streaking is not. Blogging is free and convenient whereas streaking has limitation in public.
Blogging has many good use whereas streaking without fund raising is uselesss. You can make money in blogging whereas streaking can be a liability.:)
Blogging has gained public acceptance in a very short period of time since inception. Streaking has not since 18 forgotten.
Leytenian,
In one comment, you said you have big nice boobs (hope not Dr. Belo creation) but you won’t streak. So what’s your beef if some strong-willed, modern Pinay woman does it. If you have them, flaunt them! Or are you worried you’re not up to the challenge.
Let’s stop all this nonsense and BS. Don’t you realize how pervasive worldwide pornography is. And you say its all fake and copied, if Filipinos do it.
Gimme me break!Please visit you-orn and see for yourself every nationality/culture display their basic instincts.
You really are just naive or just plain clueless about what’s happening in the real world.
Hoy gising!!!
leytenian,
I’ll submit that the comparison you’ve drawn between the motivations of bloggers and those who participate in those Runs differ range from the profound to the inane.
But whether they are expressions of nationalism, protest, or are celebrations of having surmounted deeply personal challenges or plain youthful exuberance, such are human expressions that deserve to be respected and tolerated.
Methinks the message of the immortal poem DESIDERATA is apropos.
Phil,
Your world is not my world. Exposing oneself is cheap and it is not normal. If you find running naked acceptable to your standard then that’s your opinion at your own risk.
You can become a victim of legal scrutiny if one will sue you for running naked. That can be the reality that many have not understood.
Not one in mainstream media even called the whole thing as streaking or flashing. These are too high-falluting a word – burgis (in Tagalog).
What was simply said is that since they are private parts, kaya nga private, they are not to be exposed in public, unless buang daw, sabi ni Nene. Eh ang mga tiga UP hindi naman siguro mga buang dahil lang sinabi ng outsider o ng isang tao na mataas masyado ang moral standard.
And by conveniently throwing the book, the lawyer masterfully cites Revised Penal Code provisions that must have been violated. Those who tolerated that to happen – to include the Fourth Estate – must have likewise violated the Code, don’t they by extension and implication?
that pornography is everywhere does not mean that it is not against the law. that streaking is now a fad and therefore it becomes legal. stretch this argument along the line of government thievery and brigandage being a fad (“kalakaran”)among our government officials and therefore it becomes excusable already, but lo and behold, 99 per cent of commenters here still consider thievery and brigandage in high office obnoxious.
if you admit that freedom of expression has some limitation why bewail Pimentel’s rightful claim that “indecent exposure” is a crie punished by the Revised Penal Code.
well, well, one has said that if one has the right curves and boobs, she must rather go streak because she has something to show for the public. a very masculine comment that the public prurient’s interest is better served by those voluptuous streakers and say to “hell with the law”.
but i think majority of the women on the street would be scandalized by their own running naked in public … and young children regardless of sex who were brought up in an atmosphere of civility and good manners would be scandalized by people running naked on the street too. but some would be thrilled and amused, but who says that one’s sense of upgrightness is to be determined by those who were thrilled only and not by those who were dismayed by this naked display of human anatomy?
Hey, why not enjoy the Scenery Free once a year.
If those people wants to have fun running naked.
Let them do so.
We have made a mountain out of a molehill already
on the issue. Too much prudes in our society.
Let them all display their shortcomings. We will
come and judge…
Its really amazing how some people could preach decency especially from somebody suspended to practice his profession for wrongdoing and misconduct.
I believe Webster called this hypocrisy.
Clueless at best.
Touche’ Phil Manila,
Mewonders how Atty. Camano will react.
jcc @ 3:10am, i beg to differ that streaking is a crime per se under the rpc. i may have been too long away from philippine criminal law but i don’t recall any specific provision that punishes the mere act of streaking. if you mean it’s an act that could be punishable under crimes against morals or public decency, e.g. “indecent exposure”, you will have to show INTENT to offend the morals or to scandalize the public. if the intent is to make a political statement, or express an opinion without immoral, indecent or scandalous intent, i don’t believe it would be actionable criminally.
Here’s something:
http://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecreeno1986.html
The one you guys are looking for:
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/79277160!.pdf
ding, what, may i ask, is the relevance of your link re board of censors?
@Ding G. Gagelonia on March 9th, 2009 5:20 am
this is the MTRCB law?! grabe…
initial thoughts… i once asked why we don’t have movies about criminals.. apparently its illegal!!!
“iii) Those which glorify criminals or condone crimes;”
but i remember before, there were action movies based on gangs and criminals… bakit legal ang mga yun?
paano na ang :Utol kung hoodlum”? wasn’t robin padilla a criminal there? doesn’t that movie condone crimes?
geez… ang gulo!
Atty. Ben,
Kaya ng powers mo yan.
Go figure. If you can’t, talk to the hand, :)
Take time to follow the other link so you can see everything in context. Abogado ka di ba?
Bencard,
You were really long been absent in the country. Streaking or indecent exposure is part of Art 201 of the RPC. Don’t ask me but this is what Prosecutors in Quezon City and Manila normally invoke in charging people walking around naked and showing their genitals in public.
It may further interest you to know that Quezon City and Manila have city ordinance prohibiting people from going naked and display their genitals in public.
In the case of Art. 201, the intent to go naked is evident and therefore the criminal intent was there, though the hidden motive is to make a political statement. But in an offense like this, the element of intent is shown by the very act of running naked and while the motivation was something else.
It is like stealing in a store so you can have money to pay for the hospitalization of your sick mother. The motive was noble but the act was reprehensible.
Here is Article 201:
“Immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows. — The penalty of prision mayor or a fine ranging from six thousand to twelve thousand pesos, or both such imprisonment and fine, shall be imposed upon:
X x x
b) Those who, in theaters, fairs, cinematographs or any other place, exhibit, indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or in film, which are prescribed by virtue hereof, shall include those which (1) glorify criminals or condone crimes; (2) serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence, lust or pornography; (3) offend any race or religion; (4) tend to abet traffic in and use of prohibited drugs; and (5) are contrary to law, public order, morals, and good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts;
Incidentally, here is a limitation of press freedom for all of you people:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=12412236&ch=4226713&src=news
jcc,
One other charge used against the daring is causing alarm and scandal, methinks.
But one point I really wanted to make is for Pimentel to stop grandstanding and actually hail the ‘offensive offenders’, in his view, to court.
Otherwise yung privileged speech niya ay kwentong walang kwenta.