Lea Salonga trends on Twitter after posting a controversial one-liner on Facebook
Lea Salonga trended on Philippine Twitter after netizens and fans noticed her taking a stand on the current issues happening in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The music icon on Sunday posted a controversial one-liner on her personal Facebook account, piquing the interest of netizens: "Dear Pilipinas, p******ina, ang hirap mong mahalin," Lea said, which has since garnered over 10,000 tweets as of this writing.
In the comments section of the post, netizens aired out their own sentiments on the current issues of the country, some of which Lea gladly engaged in as well.
"Criticism of one's government shouldn't be considered an expression of hatred, but one of love and a desire to see the country succeed. I would like to think that in a functioning democracy, this should never be anyone's fear, that their criticism would land them in jail, or worse, a corpse lying on a curb," she eloquently wrote in one of the comments.
In an earlier post, Lea also spoke up against victim-blaming and rape, after Lucban Municipal Police Station warned girls not to wear short clothes to prevent sex crimes.
Reposting motoring journalist James Deakin's diagram explaining "the reasons of rape," Lea said what a woman wears should never be a reason for her being raped. And, as has been pointed out, it really doesn’t matter what a woman wears. If a rapist wants to do the deed, he will."
Lea continued: "The onus of rape should solely be on the shoulders of the rapist. What a woman happened to be wearing is immaterial. Men, you can always do and be better. And to the adults, we need to raise better men."
Her stance came just as rape and rape culture were hotly discussed on social media. That weekend, Frankie Pangilinan took on TV and radio journalist Ben Tulfo's comments and said "The way anyone dresses should not be deemed as opportunity to sexually assault them." The Megastar's daughter also used the hashtag #HijaAko, which soon trended on Twitter.
Right around the same time, the phrase "I Stand with Lea Salonga" started trending, as well.
I couldn’t agree more.
— Hyacinth Faith ???? (@frxwess) June 16, 2020
I STAND WITH LEA SALONGA pic.twitter.com/OSUFt6euuT
Do you remember the time when we needed the RH bill passed? Lea was at the forefront of the artists industry who advocated for it. She has always been sensible. Others just refused to see it.
— Gracie Brennan-Booth (@sky_gracie) June 16, 2020
I STAND WITH LEA SALONGA pic.twitter.com/ocTmhqc9YZ
"Rape is never the victim's fault, and shame to anyone that thinks so."
— mary joy (@mspdmnggg) June 16, 2020
"There is no dress code for rape"
"We need to raise better men"
BALAKAUJAN BUT
I STAND WITH LEA SALONGA pic.twitter.com/xWKnAhz6KC
i stand with lea salonga and these comments from her. pic.twitter.com/KYgPs5yvAf
— everyone that has my back (@thetinymushu) June 16, 2020
A netizen with a Twitter username @feleacity ditched labelling Lea, posted screengrabs of her comments and said "her views can change in a time like yours." is "not a DDS nor a dilawan."
LEA SALONGA IS NOT A DDS NOR A DILAWAN. You want receipts? Here‘s a new one. 2016 pa ‘yong issue niyo ng marcos ap*logist siya. 2020 na. She already heard us. She‘s human after all. Her views can change in time like yours.
— jennifer (@feleacity) June 16, 2020
I STAND WITH LEA SALONGA pic.twitter.com/4H5SJZTuP9
Filipino Human Rights Activist Frank Baraan meanwhile shared a screenshot of some of Lea's past tweets, FB posts, and comments and praised her for voicing her stand on issues.
"Lea was superb in Saigon—Lea was great in Les Miserables. She was perfect as Jasmin—she was stellar as Mulan. But among the roles Lea played—I love her playing HERSELF the best—a world-class singer using her pitch-perfect voice on tone-deaf issues."
Lea was superb in Saigon—Lea was great in Les Miserables. She was perfect as Jasmin—she was stellar as Mulan.
— Frank Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) June 16, 2020
But among the roles Lea played—I love her playing HERSELF the best—a world-class singer using her pitch-perfect voice on tone-deaf issues.
I STAND WITH @MsLeaSalonga!???? pic.twitter.com/UO8O2HB4dM
On Wednesday, Lea thanked those who have shown support and defended her from those who have criticized her for voicing out her opinions.
"To everyone that has my back, thank you. You have my appreciation. I am very grateful," she wrote.
To everyone that has my back, thank you. You have my appreciation. I am very grateful.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 17, 2020
— Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News