'Voters won't fall for women who cry during campaign'

MANILA, Philippines - Believing that Filipino voters are intelligent and discerning enough not to fall for such an old tack, the women’s group Gabriela advised women candidates of the May 2010 polls to stop trying to win the people’s sympathy by shedding tears on stage and in front of cameras.

“Stop crying and stick to mouthing substantial issues and platform of government in campaign sorties and media interviews,” the group, offering unsolicited advice, said yesterday.

“I think it (crying game) is a strategy by traditional politicians to elicit support and sympathy. However, voters are intelligent and discerning enough not to fall for that,” Gabriela party-list second nominee Emmie de Jesus said.

She made the comment in reaction to the political contest in Quezon City which pitted Joy Belmonte, daughter of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, against actress Aiko Melendez who had recently took to crying in media interviews and rallies as she accused the other of making statements questioning her competence and morality. Belmonte has never uttered such statements in any speech at any rally.

Belmonte, according Melendez’s allegations, has received a formal endorsement from Gabriela for showing a long track record in promoting “equal opportunity for work and improvement” of women in Quezon City through her livelihood and employment-generating projects,” and for fighting for the rights of women against violence.

Gabriela supported the candidacy of Vice Mayor Herbert ‘Bistek’ Bautista who is running for mayor noting that both Belmonte and Bautista have a solid track record of helping the women sector.

Although Melendez was entitled to her tears to get sympathy from voters, De Jesus said she doubted whether voters will be blinded by such traditional campaign tack.

“People hardly felt her presence and projects as a councilor in Quezon City,” she said as she advised Melendez and other women political candidates running for office to stick to imparting their political platforms to voters.

As for Belmonte, De Jesus said the former has half-a-decade record of dedication to eliminating the problem of violence against women in Quezon City.

“We have been working with Joy (Belmonte) since 2004 to educate the public when the VAWC law was passed,” she said, referring to Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

Aside from working to educate the public on abuse of women, Belmonte also worked closely with Gabriela in promoting women’s health benefits by holding medical missions for PAP smears and providing medical assistance for pregnant women.