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The whole country is once again on the uproar because of the statement of the famous American actor Alec Baldwin. Baldwin, who is 51 years old, said he is planning to buy a Filipina mail-order bride, implying that our Filipinas are commodity which can be bought.

Baldwin joined the ranks of internationally recognized celebrities who have maligned Filipinos. In his interview on the Late Show with David Letterman last May 12, Baldwin was quoted as saying “I think about getting a Filipina mail-order bride at this point or a Russian one, I don’t care, I’m 51,” to the show’s host David Letterman.

He may have thought that he delivered in jest, but the statement clearly showed Baldwin’s lack of sensitivity and tact toward other nationalities.

Senator Bong Revilla said that Baldwin’s comment was “insensitive and uncalled for” and an insult to Filipinos. He called the actor arrogant and is asking him to make an apology.

Women’s right activist, Representative Risa Hontiveros said Baldwin does not deserve a Filipina wife and that the joke was totally foul.

Senator Loren Legarda said “incidents of mockery against our race happen again and again. Again and again we must not fail in our strong condemnation and resounding assertion of our dignity,” and she added, “let us make it clear to the world: Filipino women are not for sale. Not even for sale to Hollywood actors.”

Baldwin should also realize that facilitating or arranging a marriage between a Filipina and a foreigner has been prohibited under Republic Act 6955 or the Anti-Mail-Order Bride Law of 1990. An imprisonment of six to eight years and payment of a fine between P8,000 and P20,000 awaits violators of this law.

It could be recalled that Teri Hatcher questioned the medical certificates of Filipino doctors in one episode of “Desperate Housewives.”  The British show Harry & Paul ridiculed a Filipina maid as a sex symbol in their show. Just recently, Hong Kong magazine columnist Chip Tsao called the Philippines a nation of servants.