DSWD cries foul over ‘ampon’ joke on ABS-CBN’s ‘It’s Showtime’

1 point each na#ShowtimeNanJUNEkaNaNaman pic.twitter.com/UAq9kMAWjV

— ItsShowtimeNa (@itsShowtimeNa) June 7, 2018

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has strongly condemned the “offensive joke” delivered in a segment of ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show It’s Showtime, even as its hosts have already issued an apology.

“The Department strongly condemns statements, which are offensive, insensitive, and stimulate social stigma to adoptees by any individual, private or public institution, and organization.  The words ‘ampon ka’ is discriminatory and has negative connotation,” DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo said in a statement on Thursday.

“Even if the statement was delivered in a manner of joke and/or for entertainment purpose, the show and the network ha​ve the full responsibility over it,” she added.

On the June 7 (Thursday) episode of It’s Showtime, talent Erin Ocampo of the show’s all-girl group made a joke about orphans during the “Purokatatawanan” segment.

Ocampo asked Jimboy Martin of the counterpart all-boy group on “how to make an ugly child.”

Martin jokingly threw the question back to Ocampo, urging her to “ask her mother about it.”  Then, Ocampo responded by telling Martin to “ask his true parents” because he is an “orphan.”

Martin in real life is not an orphan; in the segment, two teams throw barbs at each other, whether fictional or based on reality, to earn the approval of the audience.  The team that makes the audience laugh more gets a point.

It’s Showtime host Amy Perez apologized in the subsequent episode.

“Ang buong programa po ay humihingi po ng paumanhin at hindi po namin intensyon na mawalan ng respeto at gawing katawa-tawa ang mga tao,” Perez said.

(The program is asking for your forgiveness and it is not our intention to disrespect or ridicule others.)

“Magtiwala po kayo na mas lalo po kaming magiging maingat, responsable, at sensitibo sa aming mga salita para sa kasiyahan po ng lahat,” she added.

(You can count on us to be more careful, responsible, and sensitive with our words for the happiness of us all.)

For Orogo, there is nothing wrong in legally adopting children, as it gives better opportunities for a displaced child.

“As the agency that works for the protection and promotion of children’s welfare, we see legal adoption as good and the best last option for children who were neglected, abandoned or without families,” Orogo, who also served as the vice-chair of the Inter-Country Adoption Board.

She said that asked the network to assure the public that similar incidents would not happen again, while encouraging them to help DSWD in disseminating information on the risks of illegal adoption.

“We enjoin everyone to help us advocate legal adoption and its process. Let us continue to warn the public against transactions with unregistered child caring agencies and individuals by any means,” Orogo said. /je