TARLAC CITY – Religious groups and netizens here are crying “blasphemy” over a video of Mayor Cristy Angeles portrayed as the Virgin Mary that went viral on social media.
Lasting about 14 seconds, the video showed a tarpaulin with the image of Angeles dressed as the Virgin wearing a veil, with a halo on here head and surrounded with flowers. ““Hail Cristy full of grace my vote is with you!” read the accompanying text to the image.
A Kaisa Women’s Organization (KWO) source who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal said that the video was taken on Dec. 16 during a KWO Christmas party.
Immediately after the video was posted, thousands of netizens howled in protest and blasted Angeles who is running for second district congresswoman in next year’s mid-term elections. Her husband Vic and daughter KT will likewise run for Tarlac City mayor and vice mayor respectively.
Netizen Erwin Fontanilla commented, “…insulto sa mga Kristiano lalo na sa Katoliko.”
Erlinda Castro posted, “sobrang delusional na ng ganitong mindset, isipin mo pala simba ka tapos makikita mo na may gumagawa niyan matutuwa ka pa kaya? Yung mga supporter tuwang tuwa pero para sa mga Katoliko hindi maganda ang ganito.”
Paul Garcia wrote, “What the? This is very wrong! Imagine mocking a respected Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of all Saints! Eto ba yung sinasabi nyo na may puso? Nakakahiya! Never tolerate this kind of behavior. Shame on you!”
Marjorie Paez said, “Sumosobra na po kayo.”
Amid the backlash, the video was taken down a few hours after it was posted.
A Catholic priest who declined to be named said that the act done by the supporters of Angeles and the non-action of the city mayor “is the highest form of blasphemy.”
“That is the highest form of disrespect to the sacred image of the Virgin Mary. The sad thing is that her trolls and blind supporters tried to justify the evil portrayal and the mayor herself did not even bother to reprimand or ask for forgiveness to what her supporters did. I think it was the mayor’s idea to be hailed as Mama Mary,” the Catholic priest lamented.
A known supporter of the Angeles family and a self-proclaimed PR man of Paniqui Mayor and gubernatorial bet Max Roxas said in his Facebook page that the idea of portraying the mayor as Virgin Mary is “very creative.”
The KWO source added that their KWO members were also slighted by the depiction as the mayor never lifted a finger to correct or reprimand her supporters.
The city hall and Angeles has yet to issue a statement regarding the viral video.
Angeles is a graduate of the Holy Spirit of Tarlac and the University of Sto. Tomas. Both are Catholic schools. Contributed by TS Reportorial Staff
