think rainbows

Since it's all over the news, I just want to say a few personal opinions about this Azkals-Cristina Ramos issue.

As we all know, it's not the first time that the Azkals have been in this kind of situation. I do not know them personally or whatever personal activities they do so I am in no place to judge the kind of personality that they have. All I know is that they play football for the Philippines even though most of them are not purely Filipino, and everything else is based on what I see and hear on the telly, and what I read when they tweet.

Thanks to all these media interviews, we now know Cristina Ramos's side of the story. How she felt disrespected with what two particular Azkals players did. I'm all about respect for women because it's something that's so important in this world, really. And I understand that what the Azkals did was really disrespectful in a way to think that she is the match commissioner, and that she's a girl. But then, can it really be considered as something as grave as sexual harassment? I would expect men's locker rooms to be in that kind of an atmosphere in that kind of situation, but I am still not sure if the things that those guys did are enough for it to be considered as such. I think sexual harassment may be a bit too much.

She's even got James Younghusband involved, the captain of the Azkals during that match, because he didn't do anything about it; and now even the whole team, because they were all laughing at it. I get the point that the Azkals have to make up for what they did, or simply be punished. After all, what they did is still wrong and higher officials can't just let this pass, because what message would it relay if that happened? And they're going against the daughter of a former President. And there would definitely be more issues to arise. (The rape issue was totally different. I personally thought that girl involved there was kinda weird.)

Anyway, she's mentioned too that she was with two other guys when they entered the locker room. I was just thinking, didn't any of those guys she was with do something to prevent this from happenning? Didn't the first guy to enter the locker room to check and see if they were ready saw that Angel was still only wearing his briefs and not called his attention and reminded him that a girl was to enter? Didn't they at least talk to the players about the way that they're behaving right then and there? Also, why didn't they call to attention the coach and the manager or the other team officials, didn't they have to be there when the inspection happens? They knew the schedule, yes, but what if some other thing came up or they weren't aware of the time? And why didn't she tell/inform the coach or the manager first about what happened before she filed any complaints or told the media about it? That part is kinda unfair for the Azkals.

These are just my thoughts. Of course I haven't been in the kind of situation Cristina Ramos was in, so I wouldn't know how it felt or how I would react. We still have yet to hear the Azkals' side too. Although just earlier Angel Guirado tweeted something about what happened. Wherever this goes, I hope it will be fair to both sides, and that this will be the last. And why does it always happen whenever the Azkals' are in the middle of important competitions? Just when they're showing good improvement. I just hope that they still do good in the AFC Challenge Cup despite of all these issues. Good thing too that they've already left before everything went out.

Good luck Azkals!

P.S.
Not being judgemental or racist or anything, but I think the attitude of Filipino men are still different than that of the foreigners. Foreigners are more open-minded, or liberated, compared to Pinoys.