Gloria Diaz says, she won't apologize kay na misinterpret ra daw iya gisulti.
Ning laban pud niya si Sen. Serge Osmeña.
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Sergio Osmeña III has come to the defense of 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz after she allegedly made a comment that was insulting to Cebuanos.
This was after Diaz said that 2010 Ms Universe 4th Runner Up Maria Venus Raj failed to bring home the crown because English is not her first language and that she should have used an interpreter.
In a text message, Osmeña said Diaz was just misinterpreted and she never meant to insult Cebuanos. He said Diaz's long-time boyfriend hails from Cebu.
"She was misinterpreted and misunderstood. What she meant is - do not answer in English if you are not too fluent. Use the language you are most comfortable with. After all, the sponsor provides interpreters. I agree with her," the senator said.
" We Filipinos understood what Venus was saying. But we should also appreciate that Americans and other peoples use different idioms and would not understand ours. Miss Diaz did not intend to insult the Cebuano people. Her longtime boyfriend for the last 12 years is from Cebu. "
On Wednesday, Cebu congresswoman Rachel "Cutie" del Mar criticized Diaz for making insulting statements against Cebuanos.
She said Cebuanos are also tired of racial slurs, such as people making fun or belittling Cebuano maids and drivers and imitating their accent.
The Vice Mayors League of The Philippines-Cebu has also issued a resolution declaring Diaz persona non grata in the province, according to an online report.
Diaz earlier maintained that she never said Cebuanos cannot speak English. She added that her proposal should not be taken as an insult against Cebuanos.
“Let me clarify it once and for all. People should have the right to say or to answer [questions] in whatever language they want to say it in. If they're Cebuanos, they can say it in Cebuano. I did not say that they did not speak English,†Diaz fired back.
“If you're Ilocano, say it in Ilocano. But if you're Ilocano who speaks good English, say it in English. If you're Cebuano who can speak Spanish, if you're comfortable with Spanish, say it in Spanish. That's what I said and that's what I meant,†she added.
Diaz said she was shocked when she heard that some got angry over what she allegedly said.
"I was like, shocked. Everybody was so angry.. I thought they're gonna stone me to death (laughs). I want to just make people realize it is just , you know, say it with whatever you're comfortable with," she added.
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