The Cebu Chapter of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines has declared 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz persona non grata in the entire province.
Aside from the declaration, the resolution also condemned the statements made by Diaz against the Cebuanos and likewise demanded a public apology from the beauty queen.
The Cebuanos felt insulted when Diaz allegedly belittled their ability to speak English or Tagalog, in relation to her proposal to get interpreters for Filipino contestants competing in international beauty pageants.
The former Miss Universe’s proposal was a reaction to the botched response of Miss Universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj’s to the pageant’s question-and-answer portion. She clarified that she never said Cebuanos cannot speak English.
According to her, people should have the right to say or to answer questions in whatever language they are comfortable, adding that beauty pageant contestants are not required to answer questions in English.
Hence, Cebuanos can say it in Cebuano.
