Loren: Colleagues focus too much on breasts

MANILA, Philippines - What is it about men and breasts?

Sen. Loren Legarda called the attention of her predominantly male colleagues in the Senate about the apparent male obsession with breasts after noticing just how much attention they give to the issue of breasts.

Legarda had just concluded her discussion on the issue of breast cancer awareness with Sen. Pia Cayetano during last Tuesday’s session and how the number of cases has risen over the years when Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III stood up to ask some questions.

Sotto wanted to know the statistics on breast cancer, specifically if it afflicts more married women or what he described as “old maids.”

Cayetano, who delivered the privilege speech on breast cancer awareness month, noted that there were studies showing that celibate women have a higher risk of breast cancer than sexually active women.

This further drew the curiosity of Sotto, who is part of the Tito Vic and Joey comedy trio, and sent several of his male colleagues laughing at his exchange with Cayetano.

While the men found the discussion amusing, Legarda was not laughing and stood up to manifest her complaint.

“I complain to this chamber. Why is it that when I speak about climate change and disaster risk reduction, all of you go to the lounge and do not listen,” she said.

“Why is it when Sen. Cayetano and I are debating on breast cancer, which is a real killer disease, suddenly all the men are smiling and listening and contributing to the discussion,” she added.

Legarda had taken the floor on several occasions to push for her advocacy of addressing the impacts of climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Just as she had indicated, few of her colleagues were around to listen and only once or twice was she interpellated.

Legarda delivered yet another privilege speech yesterday on the international day for disaster reduction, during which she reminded all elected leaders of their moral obligation to the people to lead responsibly and wisely.

This time around, it was Cayetano who interpellated Legarda, after which Sotto stood up to be recognized.

Legarda remarked that she hoped Sotto was not going to ask her about breasts or breast cancer.

Sotto said that he wanted to manifest to the female senator that he and his fellow male senators were also interested in climate change and not only in breasts.