28/02/2026
Safeguarding Dignity in Our Cultural Celebrations
The Women Working for Justice and Peace in the Cordillera (JaPNet) reiterates its deep concern over the derogatory joke delivered by performer Romeo Ogong Jr. during the celebration of Ibaloi Day in Baguio City.
What should have been a sacred celebration of Ibaloi identity and heritage became, for many women and community members, an experience marked by humiliation and disrespect.
Cultural gatherings are not mere entertainment venues; they are communal spaces where dignity is upheld and identity is honored. Any remark that reduces women to objects of humor is an affront not only to those directly offended, but also to the values we claim to uphold as a people.
We acknowledge that Mr. Ogong has issued an apology. However, an apology that shifts responsibility to the audience, suggesting he merely reacted to a joke first directed at him, fails to demonstrate full accountability.
Performers are responsible for their words and conduct on stage. Public platforms require discipline and discernment, not impulsive retaliation.
We also stress that charity work, past good deeds, or community involvement do not negate wrongdoing. History is filled with individuals who have performed acts of charity while simultaneously committing harm. Good works do not erase offensive behavior. Accountability stands on its own and cannot be offset by unrelated acts of generosity.
Furthermore, we must confront a troubling cultural pattern: popularity—whether gained through positive or negative publicity—has increasingly become normalized in our country. During election seasons, we often see how controversy, spectacle, and viral attention are converted into influence.
This culture of attention-seeking, regardless of moral consequence, must not define our standards of leadership, artistry, or public engagement. Public figures must be held to higher, not lower, expectations. A sincere apology entails: Clear acknowledgment of wrongdoing, without excuses or deflection. Recognition of the harm caused, especially to women who felt demeaned. Expression of genuine remorse, not conditional regret.
A firm commitment to change, demonstrated through future conduct. Concrete steps toward growth, including education and sensitivity formation where necessary. Subsequent public appearances in which the matter appears to be treated lightly, or narratives portraying himself as the victim, only intensify perceptions of insincerity. Psychological harm is determined not by the speaker’s intent, but by the impact on those affected.
If women continue to feel harmed or dismissed, then the harm remains real and unresolved. We affirm that Mr. Ogong deserves fair space to voice his side. Justice requires that all parties be heard. It requires due process and respectful dialogue.
However, justice also requires humility. Deferring responses to legal counsel may be a legal right, but it does not convey the contrition and accountability that this situation calls for.
We support the Baguio City Council’s move to review the resolution of IPMR Max Edwin to declare Mr. Ogong persona non grata, and we commend Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda for recognizing that consequences must follow when someone enters our home and disrespects its people.
We stand with our city as it continues to protect our spaces, our culture, and our dignity. We are watching, we are speaking out, and we will not be silenced.
For these reasons, JaPNet believes that any proposed resolution declaring him persona non grata should not be withdrawn until genuine remorse and clear behavioral change are demonstrated.
Reconciliation is possible—but only through truth-telling, accountability, and transformation.
JaPNet stands with the women who felt affronted and with all who seek to preserve the dignity of our cultural spaces.
Humor must never come at the expense of respect. Our cultural spaces must remain safe, respectful, and life-affirming for all. Our community deserves better.
Issued in the spirit of justice, peace, and the unwavering defense of human dignity.
JAPNET
28 February 2026
