Mocha defends ‘pepedederalismo’
Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson yesterday justified the suggestive dance number of the co-host of her online show, saying it was intended encourage discussions on federalism.
Several users of social networking sites were offended by the “Pepedederalismo” dance of Drew Olivar, a blogger and a co-host of Uson in the “Good News Game Show.”
Olivar gestured to his crotch and chest, chanted
“I-pepe” and “I-dede” and shouted “I-pederalismo” while Uson cheered.
“Pepe” is Filipino childspeak for the female genitalia while “dede” refers to the breast. Critics said the dance number was lewd and assailed Uson and Olivar for allegedly wasting public funds.
Uson maintained that the show did not intend to malign federalism.
“Our aim is to encourage our viewers to talk about federalism because it is one of the promises of our President,” Uson said in a Facebook post written in Filipino.
In an online video posted last Sunday, Uson claimed the game show was shot before the consultative committee and the communications group talked to her about the campaign. “I am not a spokesman for federalism. I am not an ambassadress for federalism,” she added.
Uson also claimed that no public money was used during the shooting of the game show.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said that while Uson had the best of intentions, federalism should be treated seriously.
“When we are talking about federalism, perhaps we should be more serious because it’s about the Constitution, the highest law of the land,” Roque said at a press briefing in Davao Occidental.
“It should be understood by the people and we should use a language they can understand. We have our own style. But perhaps we should be serious while communicating it in a manner that can be understood,” he added.
Roque admitted there are “better ways” of creating awareness about the merits of federalism.