Gloria Diaz - Controversy

Controversy

In a TV Patrol interview shortly after the Miss Universe 2010 pageant on 23 August, Díaz commented on Miss Philippines contestant Venus Raj becoming 4th runner-up. She suggested in the interview that perhaps Raj and other Filipinas would benefit from answering pageant questions via the use of an interpreter rather than in English. Díaz further said that ' when you think about a Cebuana can hardly speak English and of course Tagalog. Maybe she should answer in Bisaya.' Her remark sparked outrage amongst many Cebuanos, who felt that Díaz insulted their English proficiency. Cebuano politicians such as Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Congresswoman Rachel del Mar called on her to apologise. In response to the controversy, Díaz saw no need to apologise and instead clarified her remarks:

Let me clarify it once and for all. People should have the right to say or to answer (questions) in whatever language they want to say it in. If they're Cebuanos, they can say it in Cebuano. I did not say that they did not speak English. If you're Ilocano, say it in Ilocano. But if you're Ilocano who speaks good English, say it in English. If you're Cebuano who can speak Spanish, if you're comfortable with Spanish, say it in Spanish. That's what I said and that's what I meant. —Gloria Díaz, De Los Angeles, Edison (2010-09-01). "Apologize to Cebuanos, Diaz told". Cebu Daily News. Inquirer Global Nation. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20100901-289893/Apologize-to-Cebuanos-Diaz-told. Retrieved 2010-09-06.

On 1 September 2010, the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines-Cebu passed a resolution declaring Díaz a persona non grata within the Cebu City.