Magpale demands Gloria Diaz apologize for slur

CEBU, Philippines - Board Member Agnes Magpale has demanded that 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz issue a public apology for her statement that “a Cebuana can hardly speak English or Tagalog.”

In a resolution, Magpale said Diaz statement in an interview with ABS-CBN has insulted Cebuanos.

“Expressing our strongest and highest disgust over the insulting, anti-Cebuano remark of the former Ms. Universe, Gloria Diaz, which she made during a recent TV interview, and demanding from her a public apology for such remark,” Magpale’s resolution reads.

“For a former Philippine ambassadress of goodwill and supposed exceptional woman of beauty, Ms. Gloria Diaz should have been more circumspect in waggling her tongue in public, uphold the highest norms of propriety and decorum, and maintain the dignity and finesse befitting of an international beauty titlist,” the resolution reads further.

Magpale said perhaps Diaz is unaware that Cebu has become the hub of call centers in the country and that many foreigners, Koreans being the most prominent, come to Cebu to learn English.

“Maybe wa siya kahibaw that we have the most number of call centers and the English we have is more understandable than a native foreign language. Even Koreans learn English here in Cebu,” Magpale said.

Diaz made the comment when she was asked if there is a need for Philippine representatives to have an interpreter in international pageants. Many believe Maria Venus Raj could have won the Miss Universe crown had she not fumbled during the question and answer portion of the recent Miss Universe in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

“Kasi when you think about a Cebuana can hardly speak English and of course Tagalog. Maybe she should answer in Bisaya,” Diaz said in the ABS-CBN interview, which had Cebuanos frowning.

Magpale said Diaz is someone who many look up to and what many might believe in what she said.

“Such arrogant remark makes Cebuanos as inferior breed of Filipinos. Ilang tan-aw nato mura’g maids and it is very unfortunate,” Magpale said. (FREEMAN)