Single Moms Geneva Cruz, Jennylyn Mercado, LJ Reyes Tell Tito Sotto: Your Joke Was Not Funny

Celebrity single moms Geneva Cruz, Jennylyn Mercado and LJ Reyes came out on social media calling out Senator Tito Sotto for his offensive remark about single mothers. The senator, during a Commission on Appointment session with DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, called Taguiwalo’s situation as “na-ano lang (got knocked-up).”

This phrase is the same one the senator uses to describe single mothers they encounter in their noontime show. According to an ABS-CBN report, he intended it to be a joke, to which sadly many people in the session laughed at.

Celebrity-Single Moms Take To Social Media

LJ Reyes took to Instagram to express her disappointment at what has been happening in the Senate. According to PEP.ph, her first post showed how sad she was that Gina Lopez did not get her confirmation, saying that Lopez was what the country needed.

She, however, added what the country does not need: “somebody who belittles mothers that singlehandedly raises their kid(s)! Remember that in every single mother’s story, there is a man like you (!!!!) who would never ever be at par to any of the single mothers out there! LJ raises Aki by herself, her son with former boyfriend Paulo Avelino.

Geneva Cruz, who is a single mother to two kids, told the senator that she did not intend on being single but life does not always turn out the way it is wanted. She adds, “Raising a family is difficult enough, we don’t need to be ridiculed by you.” She also said that his joke was definitely not funny.

Another single mother, Jennylyn Mercado shared her thoughts on Twitter. She expressed her utmost respect for single parents like herself who despite all odds, are able to raise their children.

Other Celebrities Show Support For Single Parents

Husband and wife celebrities Ogie and Regine Alcasid showed their support for single moms by sharing this famous quote by Mandy Hale: “You are a doctor, a teacher, a nurse, a maid, a cook, a referee, a heroine, a provider, a defender, a protector, a true Superwoman. Let us wear our capes proudly.”

Iza Calzado also gave virtual hugs to her single mother friends and all single mothers in the world. She said that this was her way “of balancing such a negative and derogatory remark that was made about single moms yesterday.”

I am a proud single mom to my son Aki! I think it’s time to stand up for all the women who singlehandedly raise their child(ren)! No matter what people say! Respect begets respect! God bless you!

A post shared by LJ Reyes (@lj_reyes) on May 3, 2017 at 5:45am PDT

To all my fellow single moms: You are a doctor, a teacher, a nurse, a maid, a cook, a referee, a heroine, a provider, a defender, a protector, a true #Superwoman. ❤️ Let us wear our capes proudly! ???? ? ~Mandy Hale Senator Tito Sotto, just so you know, as a mom, I actually did not plan on being single. But in life, we all have to deal with the cards we are dealt the best way we can. We single moms all have different stories; some were married, others chose not to have a partner, and some were even raped. ? Raising a #family is difficult enough, we don’t need to be ridiculed by you. We need encouragement and opportunities, not belittlement nor obstacles of any kind. Hindi po talaga nakakatawa ang joke ninyo. Anyway, All the best! #proudsinglemom #singlemom #mom #woman #titosotto #senatortitosotto

A post shared by Geneva Cruz (@genevacruzofficial) on May 3, 2017 at 2:42pm PDT