Give Coco Martin ( Rodel Nacianceno in real life) the benefit of the doubt. As his lawyer and camp spokespersons justified, the debonnaire and multi-awarded actor/model was totally naive of the inimical effect of his gesture when he took the romp in the fashion show he participated in recently. Categorically they as well as the company owner described him as a model who simply followed the instructions given him in said gig and should not be blamed.
Assuming for purpose of argument that Coco must be spared of the feminist uproar against the insensitivity of his role in the said fashion gig, he could not be excused for his being a person who should have been responsible enough to discern the good and bad effect of his future actuation. Were people not all pounded by their forefathers, elders, parents, mentors and teachers that one should think before he acts? Did this ever occured in his mind? If yes, only he has the reason which he refuses to divulge to the public.
If Coco was an ordinary political luminary, people would aptly surmise that placed in the balance, the economic gain must have weighed greater than whatever people will eventually say against a questioned actuation. The luster and value of money pathetically outweighs the test of character and value. However, Coco is not this kind of a person, or so do people think of him based on the roles he portrays in the teleseryes (soap operas) and movies.
Coco’s career, according to showbiz news, is now badly affected by the seemingly insensitive role he depicted in Bench fashion show. Worse, they had feelers that a prominent business establishment is pulling out all of Cocos ad tarps across the archipelago as aftermath of the denounced ramp walk of the matinee idol in said sensational Bench fashion gig.
Coco is apparently changing his wardrobe from the hearththrob roles to the “bida-kontrabida” portrayals. Is the insensitive savagery that Coco was allegedly instructed to depict in the show not coincidental? Whatever is happening to Coco’s career is not the women’s rights advocates groups, such as Gabriela, is concerned of but by the message the particular segment of the fashion show put forward.
Let this controversy be a reminder to all organizers. They should be gender sensitive and advocates as well of the dignity of women and children.

To travel along the highways from Tacloban to Isabel passing by ten towns I am impressed by the positive transformation of the landscape especially the rehabilitated dwellings by the highways, plains and valleys that were destroyed by Yolanda.
I am impressed at the glistening rooftops that are newly installed now a far cry among these dwellings that Yolanda literally crumpled, disheveled and transformed into pitiful ruins when it hit Leyte almost a year ago.
Today we seldom see a house with nipa-thatched roofing along these areas. Yes, they’re almost all gone. Nipa-thatched houses were owned by the below-averaged low income and poor families.
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With these dwellings now with galvanized iron rooftops can we be confident in saying that their lifestyles or their economic lives have improved? Sadly not! We know for a fact that these new galvanized roofs were given free by government thru the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and from scores of philanthropic and generous people here and abroad.
It will therefore not be a regular program providing roofs in normal times.
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In the long, long past nipa-thatched –weaved for roofing purposes was a cottage industry that littered the countryside because most of the homes used nipa thatches Nipa roofing do not last long compared to galvanized iron sheets but it makes homes much cooler and the market was good because majority of our people need nipa thatches. We are still a country of below average and poor economic-status families.
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Where have all the nipas gone? Just like many of our forests, seashores and river banks where nipa grew then, these have been depleted. Mangroves have been sources of fuel in bakeries then and in many households especially in our region.
So there is a need for massive mangrove replanting program. PASAR in Isabel is now undergoing that project along the seashores and riverbanks inside the Industrial Estate. Their mangrove replanting activity extends up to nearby towns of Merida and Palompon.
In Barugo to include many other towns in Leyte, DENR had undertaken mangroves replanting activities.
In fact, this is one of the concerns of Leyte Governor Dominic “Mic” L. Petlla a serious focus on his environmental protection and development program. Certainly he shall make this program another priority region-wide now being the newly appointed chairman of the Regional Development Council in Region 8.
Biliran province likewise is also undertaking such noble and much-needed project province-wide says a Philippine Information Agency text message.
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As the population increases – families increase as well, so therefore homes will be built by new families. Prices of galvanized iron sheets are beyond rich by ordinary families so let us restore the diminishing mangroves in our seashores and river banks.
The public should seriously be on hand to actively participate in the implementation of these projects. That time is NOW!