EDITORIAL - Twerking and propriety

Government officials, and even those who are still eyeing positions in government, should always make sure that they conduct themselves properly and with dignity, especially when in the public eye.

If only those involved in the twerking controversy that happened during a Liberal Party gathering in Laguna last week had this in mind, such a dance number would not have happened.

The dance number, by a group of scantily-clad women, who were later joined by a congressman member of the LP, caused an uproar. Netizens said that the dance was lewd, inappropriate for such a gathering and was degrading to women. Stinging hashtags such as #DaangMatuwad, and #LiberalPanty flooded social networking sites.

The LP gathering, a mass oath-taking of 80 local officials from the fourth district of Laguna led by no less than LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, was held at the house of Laguna Rep. Benjamin Aragao, who was also celebrating his birthday that day. The event was covered by the media, thus, it was a public affair. The dancers, who provided entertainment during the gathering, were said to be a "gift" from Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and senatorial aspirant Francis Tolentino to the Laguna lawmaker.

Tolentino has since denied that the dancers were a "gift" from him. Aragao, who was seen twerking with the dancers, clarified that Roxas was no longer there when the dance happened. He said there was nothing lewd or malicious about the dance, which happened after the oath-taking, and that because he was "lalaking lalaki," he saw nothing wrong with it.

"Twerking," according to google, is dancing in a sexually provocative manner with hip thrusting movements.

There would have been nothing wrong with such a dance if the event where the dance happened was not a political gathering, and one that was covered by the media. There is no place for lewd dancing in a gathering of public officials, elected public officials at that, in a public event. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a GMA interview that the event was a private function. But why was the media there? Surely, those who attended the event knew of the presence of the media and knew that whatever they do during the event will be reported to the public.

There would have been no public uproar if the dance number did not involve an elected official. There have been many shows on television that featured twerking. Some of those who twerked, local and international show business personalities, including Miley Cyrus who popularized the dance steps, drew flak for the risqué movements. So imagine a public official twerking in an event covered by national TV!

Public officials must always remember that because they owe their positions to those who elected them, they are public property 24/7. A public official does not cease to be one after government office hours. Since public officials are supposed to be leaders of the people, they must know the difference between what is proper and what is inappropriate behavior.