Amid Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s acrid remark on single mothers, Jennylyn Mercado and LJ Reyes paid tribute to thousands of fellow solo mothers through social media.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Mercado paid her respects to many Filipino single mothers who wholeheartedly raised their children, since she could relate to their parenting struggles. The “Starstruck” alumna is a mother to Alex Jazz from ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia.
“I have high respects for my fellow solo parents by choice or by force. Mahirap dahil mag-isa, pero lahat kinakaya dahil sa love sa anak (It’s hard because we’re alone, but we do everything for the love of our child),” Mercado said.
I have high respects for my fellow solo parents by choice or by force. Mahirap dahil mag-isa, pero lahat kinakaya dahil sa love sa anak.❤️
— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) May 3, 2017
LJ Reyes, a single mother to son Aki, also penned her sentiments on Instagram with a photo of her with her son, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Paulo Avelino.
“I am a proud single mom to my son Aki,” she said. “I think it’s time to stand up for all the women who singlehandedly raise their children. No matter what people say. Respect begets respect.”
Her current boyfriend, actor-comedian Paolo Contis, vented his anger at Sotto’s “offensive” remark made during a Senate confirmation hearing.
“Single motherhood should not be joked about. LJ Reyes is one great mother and I am very proud of her,” Contis wrote on Instagram.
Other celebrities who previously reacted to the issue were Lea Salonga, Pokwang, Bianca Gonzalez, Janine Gutierrez, Lauren Young and Saab Magalona.
Sotto recently drew flak for asking Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo about her marital status during the latter’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday. When Taguiwalo said that she has two daughters but remains single, Sotto blurted out, “In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag diyan ay na-ano lang (what you call that is you just got laid),” he said.
He apologized later, but said that his “na-ano” gaffe was meant to be a joke. Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra
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