Joke falls flat
They are a vulnerable sector he claims to champion but they were reduced to the butt of a flirtatious remark.
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They are a vulnerable sector he claims to champion but they were reduced to the butt of a flirtatious remark.
We expect our leaders to uplift, not embarrass. Yet, Pasig City congressional aspirant Christian “Ian” Sia seemed to forget that with his recent “joke” targeting solo parents at a campaign event on 2 April, where he made a suggestive remark toward single mothers — only to dismiss it later as a “joke.”
At a caucus for “Team Kaya This,” Sia said: “Minsan sa isang taon ang mga solo parent na babae na rineregla pa — nay, malinaw na rineregla pa — at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon pwedeng sumiping ho sa akin (Once a year, female single parents who still have their monthly period and feel lonely, once a year you can have sex with me).”
He gestured toward a table and said: “Yung mga interesado, magpalista na po rito sa mesa sa gilid (Those who are interested, sign up at the table at the side).”
He doubled down with an even stranger punchline: “Kaya heto ang sasabihin ko sa mga nangangarap — mamamatay ka ‘di mo ‘ko matitikman (So here’s what I’ll say to those who are still thinking about it — you’re going to die without having a taste of me).”
Sia’s attempt at humor was awkward and outright inappropriate.
Unsurprisingly, the backlash was instant — social media users on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) condemned his ill-advised quip, roasting him for his tone-deaf “joke.”
Solo parents — 90 percent of whom are women — already face daily struggles with finances, childcare, and social stigma. They are a vulnerable sector he claims to champion but he reduced them to the butt of a flirtatious remark.
If this was his idea of “connecting with voters,” it backfired.
Sia’s defensive “I’m married” clarification made things worse. It suggested three things: 1) he thinks marital status grants immunity from criticism; 2) he misunderstands why the remark was offensive; and 3) he’s more concerned about his image than the impact of his words.
Would he have found it funny if a male politician made similar comments toward women in the audience?
Sia’s personal branding as a “CPA-lawyer” running a free legal aid clinic is a credential that should command respect. Respect isn’t earned threw off-putting jokes, but is built on consistency, professionalism, and genuine empathy.
Politics isn’t a comedy bar, and public figures don’t get to shrug off offensive remarks as “just jokes.” Leaders should be mindful of their words, especially when addressing marginalized groups.
Pasig residents, especially solo parents, deserve representatives who take their struggles seriously, not candidates who turn policy discussions into uncomfortable punchlines.
If Sia wants to win the public trust, he should start by apologizing and proving he can engage with voters without resorting to cheap gimmicks.
It reflects poorly on “Team Kaya This” as they attempt to position themselves as competent alternatives to Mayor Vico Sotto. If their candidates can’t maintain professionalism during policy discussions, how can they be trusted with governance?
Voters might just respond with their own punchline: ‘Kaya ba talaga ninyo (Can you really hack it)?” Or is this just more of the same old politics we’re trying to move beyond?
