Robin Padilla downplays Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon Halloween costume controversy

MANILA, Philippines – Robin Padilla has downplayed the controversy surrounding Senator Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon’s costumes during the Halloween episode of Eat Bulaga.

In his Facebook page, Robin answered some of his followers’ comments and questions. Tito and Joey drew strong reactions from social media after they appeared on the show wearing a keffiyeh or hatta (headdress) and a thawb (long-sleeved garment) often worn by Arab men. (Read more about the garments here.)

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman had demanded a public apology from East Bulaga over the incident.

Here is Robin’s statement.

“BangsaMoro Youth ang ganap na ito ang mas pinag-aaksayahan ng oras lalo ng alab ng inyong mga lahi. Ang magbigay ng panahon sa mga bagay na hindi karugtong ng iyong pusod, lalo ng iyong kinabukasan at karapatan, ay hindi pagiging mulat bagkus ay bulag, ang usapin ng bawat tradisyon at kultura ay hindi kailanman parte ng Pananampalataya sa Panginoong Maylikha.

(BangsaMoro Youth, you’re wasting time on this type of issue. To devote time to such an issue that is not related to your future and rights is not about being open, but being blind. The discussion of tradition and culture has never been part of your faith to our dear Creator.)

“Choose your battles and be wise in propagating Islam. How can we achieve peace, prosperity and the realization of shariah when the representation of Islam in our hearts is the Arab Costume, not the character and the light of Prophet Muhamad(SAW). I have fought with you in many peaceful ways but this campaign against a showbiz and political personality is, for me, not worthy of my revolutionary time; this is not an Islamic insult nor a race issue.

“Sa mga kapanalig sa Katipunan, hinihingi ko na muli ninyong basahin ang ating kartilya at manalangin sa Panginoong Maylikha na ang ibigay ng Nagiisang Dios sa atin ay ang kanyang pang unawa at Talino upang ang katwiran ang manaig hindi galit.”

(To my fellowmen in the Katipunan, I ask you read again the primer and pray to the Creator that the one God would give us his understanding and intelligence, that logic wins over anger.)

“Kung ang pagbabasehan ng ating pagka-Muslim ay ang kasuotan na ito, para na rin sinabi na ang lahat ng mga nasa YouTube na pagmamalupit at panggagahasa ng mga Arabo sa ating mga OFW ay pagka-Muslim. Mag-ingat tayo, mga kapatid, sa pagpukol ng puna at bato baka bumalik sa mukha natin at mawalan tayo ng mga mukha. Ang Muslim ay hindi Arabo, ang Islam ay mula sa Allah, at tanging pag-uugali lamang ng propeta Muhamad(saw) ang basehan ng ating pagka-Muslim hindi kailanman sa kasuotan,” he wrote.

(If the basis of being a Muslim is through clothing, it’s like saying that all the abuse and rape committed by Arabs against OFWs is being Muslim. Be careful, my brothers and sisters, in criticizing as it might come back to our face, and we would have no more face to show. Being a Muslim is not being an Arab, Islam is from Allah, and the only basis we have for practicing Islam is the attitude of the prophet Muhamad  and never through clothing.)

In another comment, Robin replied: “Hindi Islamic costume ‘yan, kapatid….Arab traditional costume ‘yan at ang nagsusuot niyan ay hindi lamang Muslim, [ngunit mga] ARABO [rin] (That is not an Islamic costume my brother, that is an Arab traditional costume and those who wear it are not only Muslims, but ARABS as well).”

On Sunday, November 1, the ARMM governor demanded a public apology from the hosts of Eat Bulaga for wearing the outfits. 

In a statement, Governor Mujiv Hataman said that the hosts and the people behind Eat Bulaga should apologize for wearing the costume, saying it was not suitable for Halloween, when people dress up in scary costumes. (READ: ARMM gov to ‘Eat Bulaga’: Apologize for hosts’ Muslim Halloween garb)

But Tito Sotto defended his attire, saying it was given to him by a sheikh and that he was not making fun of any culture or religion. – Rappler.com