Video: About LGBT issue. Dahil sa isang tweet napasagot tuloy ako. Pero salamat na din. ❤️ peace to everyone.
Posted by Yeng Constantino on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Singer Yeng Constantino was emotional when she revealed her stance on the controversial statements made by United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial hopeful Manny Pacquiao describing members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as “worse than animals.”
In a viral video message she posted on her Facebook account on Thursday, Constantino said that she was prompted to react after a Twitter user asked her to defend Pacquiao’s view slamming same sex marriage.
The singer, who is a Christian, said that she cannot share the boxer’s view because she believes that she was given by God the ministry of reconciliation.
“Sa mga Christians na gusto akong mag-take ng stand against homosexuality, sorry po pero hindi ko pupuntahan yung route na yun. I believe na ang binigay ng Diyos na role sa akin ay ministry of reconciliation…” Constantino said.
She also shared that she felt hurt on the attacks against members of the LGBT community because she has a gay brother.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, lahat ng suporta binibigay ko sayo kasi I believe in you and I’m proud of you. Naisip ko rin na ako nga may ganong pagmamahal sa kapatid ko, paano pa si God? Di ba? Pano pa ang Diyos kasi siya ang love? God is love. Ako siguro yung love ko sa kapatid ko kakarampot lang kumpara sa love ni God for him,” the singer said.
She then apologized to the members of the LGBT community, saying that not all Christians are like Pacquiao.
“Sa mga (miyembro ng) LGBT community, hindi ako si Manny Pacquiao, pero believe me or not hindi po lahat ng Kristiyano, ganon ang tingin sa inyo. Marami lang po diyang tahimik dahil takot na baka sila naman ang tirahin ng kapwa Kristiyano. Maniwala kayo na marami-rami rin kami. Mahal po namin kayo,” she said.
She also told members of the LGBT community hurt by Pacquiao’s statements to not be defined by the attacks hurled against them
“Kung wala tayong pag-ibig at ang kaya nating ituro ay ang kasalanan ng mga tao, paano natin ipe-present yung puso ni Jesus Christ? Are we loving? Are we really loving other people?” the singer said.
The video has since been viewed more than 570,000 times and liked by about 50,000 Facebook users.
Some celebrities such as Vice Ganda, Boy Abunda, BB Gandanghari, and Lea Salonga have twitted the Sarangani lawmaker for his statements. It also cost Pacquiao his Nike endorsement. AJH